PRIME MINISTER

Aid (Colombia)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister who has been invited to the aid donors meeting on Colombia to be held on 10th July.

Tony Blair: The US, European Commission, UN EU member states, Canada, Japan Norway, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and the Inter-American Development Bank. IMF and the World Bank have been invited to the meeting. Representatives from civil society will be invited to contribute.

Intelligence

Graham Brady: To ask the Prime Minister if he will undertake to inform the House that editing has taken place in the event that he exercises his power to edit a report of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Tony Blair: I have said I will publish the report in the usual way.

Intelligence

Gregory Barker: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 4 June 2003, Official Report, column 150, what steps have been taken by the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) to establish the identity of the individuals within the SIS who have been speaking anonymously to the media; what form the investigations have taken; what the terms of reference are; who is leading the investigation; when it is expected to report; to whom it will report; and whether the conclusions of the investigation will be made public.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) at Prime Minister's Questions on 4 June 2003, Official Report, columns 147–150.

Intelligence

David Cairns: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to lay the Intelligence and Security Committee's Annual Report for 2002–03 before Parliament.

Tony Blair: I am grateful to the Intelligence and Security Committee for their valuable work and their latest annual report. Following consultation with the Intelligence and Security Committee over matters which could not be published without prejudicing the discharge of the function and operation of the Intelligence and Security agencies. I have laid the report before the House today. Copies will also be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	The Government will respond formally to the report shortly.

Tariq Aziz

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 4 June 2003 Official Report, column 156, what process will be used in the trials of senior Iraqi figures, with particular reference to Mr.Tariq Aziz; and when he expects such trials to take place.

Tony Blair: We have always believed that those who have been responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Iraq should be brought to justice. No decisions have yet been taken on how this should be pursued. It should be for the Iraqi people to decide what action to take, with suitable international help.
	A team of coalition specialists has started assessing the situation on the ground, listening to the wishes of the Iraqi people and making recommendations for future action. UK forces have been tasked with securing and protecting evidence to hand over to the relevant prosecuting authorities at the appropriate time. The UK sent a team of none forsensic experts to Iraq on 21 May 2003, to investigate war crimes and mass graves.

CABINET OFFICE

Advertising

John Bercow: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total expenditure on advertising by the Office was in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03; and what the level of planned expenditure is for (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05.

Douglas Alexander: Details of my Department's spend on advertising in each year from 2001–02 to 2002–03 and planned expenditure in 2003–04 can be found in the table.
	
		£000
		
			  Advertising 
		
		
			 2000–01 464 
			 2001–02 2,708 
			 2002–03 400 
			 2003–04 Planned 267 
		
	
	The 2002–03 figure is subject to final audit and the planned figure for 2003–04 has not yet been finalised. Therefore, both of these figures may be subject to change. The planned spend for 2004–05 is not available without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The increase in advertising expenditure from 2000–01 to 2001–02 is due to expenditure of £2,491,000 incurred by the Office of the E-Envoy for the UK online advertising campaign.

Departmental Employees

James Gray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many employees there were in each Department of State (a) in 1997 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: The information is published annually, in Table C of 'Civil Service Statistics' which covers permanent staff numbers in each department and agency from 1995 to 2001, copies of which are laid in the Libraries of both Houses. The last edition, based on April 2001 data, was published in June 2002.
	The next edition, based on April 2002 data, is due to be published in July 2003.
	Alternatively, this information is available at the following address on the Cabinet Office Statistics website: http://www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics/css.htm.

Ministers for Regulatory Reform

Tim Yeo: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the work of the Ministers for Regulatory Reform.

Douglas Alexander: Regulatory Reform Ministers are responsible to the Prime Minister for championing better regulation. They are charged with removing any regulations, which are outdated or burdensome and ensuring that the new regulations are necessary and if so, are introduced in a light touch way.
	Regulatory Reform Ministers ensure policy officials deliver better regulation and make full use of regulatory reform tools, such as carrying out regulatory impact assessments on policy proposals and removing outdated and burdensome legislation by Regulatory Reform Order.
	These Ministers also support their Departments in completing the proposals outlined in the Government's regulatory reform action plan that was published in February 2002. To date they have achieved good progress in this area and we are on track to deliver this plan.

Ministers for Regulatory Reform

Tim Yeo: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the meetings of the Ministers for Regulatory Reform since establishment; and, for each meeting, if he will list (a) Ministers attending and (b) the person in the chair.

Douglas Alexander: Since the establishment of Regulatory Reform Ministers, they have met on 30 March 2000, 17 July 2001, 4 February 2002 and 2 December 2002. The Minister for the Cabinet Office chairs these meetings. Dr. Marjorie Mowlam chaired the first meeting on 30 March 2000 and Lord Macdonald chaired subsequent meetings. The majority of Regulatory Reform Ministers attended these meetings.

World Summit

John Horam: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which United Kingdom commitments arising from the World Summit on Sustainable Development (a) have been incorporated into the Department's existing delivery plan for service delivery agreements and (b) will be incorporated in its delivery plan for service delivery agreements in advance of the 2004 spending review.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office does not have lead responsibility for any of the UK commitments arising from the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).
	The Cabinet Office fully supports plans to incorporate UK commitments into Departments' delivery plans and related targets. We have dedicated resources to ensure that, where appropriate and relevant, UK commitments are fully taken into account in our policies and operations.

HEALTH

Binge Drinking

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many teenagers have died from binge drinking in each year since 1997.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 10 June 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question concerning how many teenagers died from binge drinking in each year since 1997. (117582)
	Figures for deaths from alcohol poisoning are given in the table. The most recent year for which figures are available is 2001. Information on the pattern of alcohol consumption is not generally available from death certificates.
	
		Deaths from accidental poisoning by alcohol, teenagers(1), England and Wales, 1997 to 2001(2)
		
			 Calendar year Number of deaths from accidental poisoning by alcohol(3) Number of deaths from drug-related poisoning, alcohol poisoning mentioned(4) 
		
		
			 1997 3 17 
			 1998 3 4 
			 1999 2 9 
			 2000 1 6 
			 2001 4 6 
		
	
	(1) Teenagers defined as aged 13–19.
	(2) Data are for deaths occurring in a calendar year
	(3) Figures are based on the underlying cause of death, defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision ICD-9) code E860 for the years 1997 to 2000 and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code X45 for2001.
	(4) Where both drug and alcohol poisoning are mentioned on the death certificate, international coding rules state that the death should be coded to the drug.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Passport Agency

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her Answer of 15 May 2003, Official Report, column 436W, on the Passport Agency, for what reason the figure for the number of lost passports in 1998 is not available; what steps her Department is taking in conjunction with Royal Mail to ensure that passports are delivered safely to customers; and what assessment she has made of the reasons why passports are lost.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	Figures for passports reported as being lost in the post only started to be collated routinely and centrally in 1998 with the introduction of the current passport production system and new procedures for claiming compensation from the Royal Mail. Figures for passports reported lost in the post prior to 1999 are not therefore available.
	The UK Passport Service has had regular discussions with the Royal Mail about the loss of passports in the post and about options for delivery which might reduce the number of losses but at the same time minimise the inconvenience and additional cost to customers which such delivery arrangements might entail. The UK Passport Service and the Royal Mail also work together on investigations into the disappearance of passports in the postal system.
	As the hon. Member will see from my response to another of his questions on 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 148W, the UK Passport Service is actively seeking to introduce a secure delivery for all passports returned to customers.
	Passports are recorded as having been lost in the post when the passport applicant reports that he or she has not received the document. The three principal reasons why a passport may not be delivered are miss-routing because of incorrect addressing, loss within the postal system as the result of some processing error or theft. In addition it is possible that a report of a lost passport may be made if there is some delay between the passport leaving the UK Passport Service and arrival at its destination.
	As recognised by the Cabinet Office "Identity Fraud: A Study" published in July 2002, identity fraud is a serious and growing problem for the UK and it is possible that this has contributed to the increase in passports being reported as having been lost in the post. However, there is no evidence currently available which could establish the degree to which the increase in identity fraud has resulted in the increase in reports of such losses

"Waste Not, Want Not"

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who has been appointed as project director of the multi-disciplinary operational task force to help advise local authorities on implementation of recommendation 28 of the Strategy Unit report, "Waste Not, Want Not".

Michael Meacher: The Government have accepted the Strategy Unit's recommendation 28 to establish a new local authority task force. Details were announced on 6 May as part of the Government's response to the Strategy Unit report. Given the centrality of this team to delivery of Defra's new waste implementation programme, a decision on a full-time appointment will be taken once the new waste implementation programmme Director takes up post on 2 June. In the meantime, a member of the waste implementation programme team has been assigned to take forward work on the new task force.

Accountancy Services

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost was of her Department's accountancy services in 2002–03.

Alun Michael: The forecast cost of accountancy services in 2002–03 is £715,000.

Biofuels

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government are taking to encourage the use of non-food crops to generate electricity; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Energy White Paper, published earlier this year, sets out the Government's aim to achieve the production of 20 per cent. of the UK's electricity through renewable sources by 2020. Biomass, including purpose-grown non-food crops, could become one of the largest contributors to the renewables mix by 2020.
	This Department allocated £29 million under the Energy Crops Scheme to support the planting of short rotation coppice (SRC) and miscanthus, and the setting up of producer groups to supply SRC to energy end-users. £3.5m has been allocated to develop supply chains for energy crops and woodfuel, from harvest to energy end-users.£66 million is available to develop markets for biomass, including energy crops, in heat, combined heat and power, and power generation. Following the award of grants, officials are working closely with project developers to promote the potential of energy crops and biomass. Recently, over 200 farmers attended one such event near Swindon.
	The co-firing of energy crops with fossil fuels is permitted under the Renewables Obligation. Officials are working closely with the Local Support Teams set up under the Countryside Agency's Community Renewables Initiative, to develop biomass energy projects. At present, energy crops can be planted on set-aside land and receive payments under the arable area payments scheme.

Biofuels

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to encourage building of power stations to burn non-food crops for the generation of electricity; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have supported the building of such power plants for a number of years, for example, through R&D support and the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation. The Bioenergy Capital Grants Scheme, launched in February 2002 and jointly run by DTI and the New Opportunities Fund, has awarded £66 million to projects throughout the United Kingdom. The projects supported include heat cluster installations, combined heat and power plant and larger state-of-the-art power generation. Many of the projects will use energy crops like short rotation coppice as a significant proportion of the fuel.

Biofuels

Gillian Shephard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports she has received from Sheffield Hallam University on the use of biofuels as the result of work commissioned by her.

Michael Meacher: We have received one report from Sheffield Hallam University on the use of biofuels as the result of work commissioned by this Department. The report, titled "Evaluation of the comparative energy, global warming and socio-economic costs and benefits of biodiesel", was commissioned to support the work of the Government-industry forum on non-food uses of crops. The report is available on the Department's website.

Biofuels

Gillian Shephard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which Minister in her Department is responsible for developing agricultural policy on biofuels.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 9 June 2003
	Two Ministers in the Department share responsibility for developing agricultural policy on biofuels. I have responsibility for promoting non-food crops in general and for the climate change benefits of biofuels. My Noble friend Lord Whitty, has responsibility for sustainable farming, the overview of relations between Defra and the Department for Transport, and sustainable energy. We work closely to ensure co-ordinated policy.

Bovine TB

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what health and safety guidance she has given to (a) farmers and (b) veterinary surgeons on the slaughter of heifers found to be infected with bovine TB.

Margaret Beckett: It is standard practice for bovine TB reactors to be removed from farm as quickly as possible and slaughtered at an abattoir by a trained slaughterman. In cases where reactor animals are unfit to travel to a slaughterhouse, arrangements are made for slaughter to be carried out on farm by a knackerman, and for a post-mortem to be carried out by the State Veterinary Service (SVS).
	As farmers or veterinary surgeons do not routinely carry out the slaughter of TB reactor animals Defra has not issued specific guidance on this.

CAP

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the Commission's proposals for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy on farms which entered into agri-environmental schemes before or during the reference period.

Margaret Beckett: Under the Commission's proposals, entitlements to the new single payment scheme would be based on claims for CAP direct payments during a reference period running from 2000 to 2002. Farmers who reduced their direct payment claims during that period as a consequence of participation in an agri-environment scheme would, therefore, see that reduction fed through to their single payment entitlement. We have made clear to the Commission and Greek Presidency that the final agreement should include provisions to ensure that agri-environment participants are not disadvantaged. The Commission has now suggested that this could be achieved by allowing the choice of a historical reference period for the single payment scheme which predates an individual's agri-environment agreement(s).

CAP

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is the Government's policy during negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural policy to seek to secure a national reserve amounting to more than 1 per cent. of the reference amount.

Margaret Beckett: The Government believe that it is important to address the inequities in the initial allocation of single payment entitlements that would be created by the European Commission's proposals. The Commission has recently suggested that those inequities could be addressed through an increase in the range of farmers who would access the national reserve. The size of the reserve would then be increased by reducing reference amounts by up to a maximum of 3 per cent. and drawing in the entitlements of farmers who sold land after the start of the reference period.

Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the grant aid to the Cotswold AONB partnership is due to be paid; and how much it will be.

Alun Michael: The Countryside Agency is responsible for grants to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. I have stressed to the Agency our expectation that timely information is given to outside organisations about the level of funding they should anticipate, and that figures should be finalised before the start of a financial year. The Agency has ensured me that it recognises the importance of timely decision making and will finalise the grant for the Cotswolds AONB, and others, as a matter of urgency.

Departmental Budget

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much of her Department's budget was unspent at the end of the financial year, broken down by heading; and what proportion of the total budget this represents.

Alun Michael: Actual outturn figures for the Department for the last financial year are not yet available, but Defra's forecast final outturn is expected to be within its final provision.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers to declare an area GM-free are held by (a) her Department, (b) local authorities and (c) the European Union.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 20 May 2003
	Under the Directive 2001/18, it would be possible for the relevant competent authority to authorise the deliberate release of a GMO subject to the condition that it may not be used in specific geographical locations on grounds of sound scientific evidence of risk to human health or the environment. Any such condition would have to be decided case-by-case. The Directive does not provide for limiting the geographical use of a GMO on any other grounds. If any GMO was assessed as presenting significant risks to human health or the environment, it is highly unlikely that it would be approved at all.

Integrated Administration and Control System

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to pay the proposed single farm payments in respect of all IACS-registered land, regardless of whether the farming activity being carried out during the reference period qualified for subsidy.

Margaret Beckett: Under the European Commission's CAP reform proposals, Member States would have the discretion to implement the single payment scheme on the basis of a single common payment rate per hectare rather than individual rates determined by historic subsidy receipts. However, this option would only apply at the regional level and the common payment per hectare would have to made to all farmers in a region, whether their land registered for arable area aid purposes or not. If any such discretion is provided for in the final agreement, the Government will wish to consult interested parties before deciding what, if any, use might be made of it.

Integrated Administration and Control System

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many registered agricultural holdings for the purposes of IACS payments there were in (a) 1995 and (b) 1997; and how many there are now.

Alun Michael: The number of registered agricultural holdings for the purposes of IACS payments for England and Wales is as follows.
	
		
			  England Wales 
		
		
			 1995 79,432 20,000 
			 1997 77,829 19,300 
			 2003 68,009 16,500

Landfill Sites

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12th December 2002, Official Report, column 445–46W, on landfill sites, if she will list the locations of the sites against which each fine has been levied; and what the (a) reason for the action and (b) level of fine was in each case.

Michael Meacher: A list of the level of fine imposed for each of the landfill sites, where the information is available, has been placed in the library of the House. Some cases have not yet come to Court.
	The specific reason for the action is not recorded by the Agency but the legislation under which the prosection action is taken is indicated alongside each report. The list of incidents may relate to breaches of Authorisation rather than Pollution Incidents.

National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the final totals for all financial claims under round one of the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund were; and what proportion of the amount originally allocated this represents.

Michael Meacher: Information on the final totals for all financial claims made under round one of the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund including the separate arrangement for London is as follows:
	
		2002–2003
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 Capital Spend Allocated (£ million) 38.58 
			 Actual Capital Spend (£ million) 30.74 
			 Proportion Spent (percentage) 80 
			 Revenue Spend Allocated (£ million) 11.42 
			 Actual Revenue Spend (£ million) 10.47 
			 Proportion Spent (percentage) 92 
		
	
	The underspend on the capital budget is due mainly to delays in the procurement of capital items such as vehicles and boxes. The Department is seeking end-year flexibility to carry forward the remaining capital budget (£7.84 million) so it can be spent by Local Authorities in 2003–04.

Odours (Essex)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she has (a) evaluated and (b) applied under Environment Agency control to resolve the problems of odours in South Essex.

Michael Meacher: The Environment Agency is the Government regulator on waste management licensing controls. The Agency is visiting the site daily and has required the operating company, through the serving of a notice under section 42 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to take steps to control and resolve the problem of odours at the Pitsea landfill site. On-going compliance is being monitored extremely tightly.
	A final layer of waste is being put over one of the two sources of odour which will be followed by a clay 'cap' to seal it. The second and most predominant source of odour, from the central leachate lagoon, has been treated with oxidising agents which eliminate the odour rapidly, but there has been difficulty in maintaining this and a number of additional measures are now being implemented.
	I will continue to monitor progress in resolving the problems of odours associated with the Pitsea landfill site.

Organic Food

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had in 2003 with the chairman of the Food Standards Agency on the promotion of organic food; and if she will make a statement on the implementation of the organic action plan.

Michael Meacher: Copies of correspondence so far between myself and the Chairman of the Food Standards Agency on organic issues have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	As chairman of the stakeholder group taking forward the "Action plan to develop organic food and farming in England" I attach great importance to progressing the commitments made in the plan. In respect of these commitments:
	I am in discussion with Chief Executives of the main multiples on the commitment to increase the proportion of organic food they source from within the UK;
	We are taking forward the commitment to encourage the purchase of sustainable and local food, including organic food, in public procurement;
	We have put in place a revised Organic Farming Scheme for England including on-going aid for organic farmers and higher rates of conversion aid for top fruit orchards;
	We are providing an additional £5 million over the next five years to support organic R&D under the LINK programme;
	The first organic statistical information notice for England was published on 19 May.

Organic Food

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department uses bodies other than the United Kingdom Accreditation Service for the accreditation of certification bodies operating in the organic food sector.

Michael Meacher: Currently the approval of organic certification bodies for the purposes of Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91 is carried out by the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS) in liaison with the Department. Consequent on the abolition of UKROFS in July 2003 new arrangements for approving the organic certification bodies are being put in place. These arrangements will involve UKAS, as the UK's official provider of accreditation services, in assessing the bodies and advising Government on their compliance with requirements in the Council Regulation. UKAS is considering the scope for collaboration with other bodies who are involved in assessments against organic standards.

Recycling

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she has collated in respect of average journey times to transport material collected for recycling to its destination point for processing.

Michael Meacher: No information has been collated in respect of average journey times to transport material collected for recycling to its destination point for processing.

Recycling

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential impact on the export trade of unsorted kerbside collected recyclables from English recycling schemes to Pacific Rim countries on economic regeneration in the UK, with special reference to the Government's Waste Strategy Proximity Principle.

Michael Meacher: No assessment has been made of the potential impact on the export trade of unsorted kerbside collected recyclables from English recycling schemes to Pacific Rim countries on economic regeneration in the UK. Local authorities must dispose of waste in accordance with the Best Practical Environmental Option (BPEO) which necessitates paying attention to the proximity principle. Waste shipments for recovery must meet the strict criteria that apply to shipments of waste to non-OECD countries under EC legislation. The criteria applied to these shipments of waste for recovery include, among others, that the waste is non-hazardous, not contaminated, and that any Pacific Rim country, if not an OECD member, will have clarified to the European Commission that it is willing and able to recover the waste in an environmentally sound manner.

Recycling

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take action to reduce the disparity between the cost of exporting unsorted recyclables and the cost of sorting them in the UK.

Michael Meacher: The Government's priority is to increase the amount of waste that is reused or recycled. It may be necessary to export some recyclate for recovery in order to achieve these aims. The Government however, is acting to extend the market for recyclates in the UK and has set up the Waste and Resources Action Programme to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products and to remove barriers to re-use and re-cycling in the UK.

Rendering Works (Lancaster)

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she intends to publish her final decision in relation to the proposed odour boundary condition at fats and proteins animal rendering works in Lancaster.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 9 June 2003
	I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 11 March 2003, Official Report, column 143W, in which I stated that the Department was considering the representations received in response to the 'minded to' decision letter. That process has further necessitated making available to all interested parties copies of the representations received and inviting comments on them.
	Officials will shortly be presenting Ministers with recommendations on this appeal case, based on an analysis of all the representations received. A final decision letter will issue as soon as possible thereafter.

Sellafield

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans will be put in place to reduce and eliminate the discharges of technetium-99 from the Sellafield re-processing plant.

Michael Meacher: In 1999 we started a process to reduce discharges of technetium-99 (Tc-99) from Sellafield. In that year the discharge limit was reduced from 200 TBq/year to 90 TBq/year and, at our request, the Environment Agency commenced a review of the discharges of Tc-99, to be completed ahead of the review of all other radioactive discharges from Sellafield. As required by the Agency, BNFL are currently working to intoduce an abatement technique known as "MAC Diversion", which we hope will be operational shortly. The introduction of that technique should allow the discharge limit to be reduced to 10 TBq/year (5 per cent. of the 1999 limit) by 2006. Further scientific evaluation is currently being carried out to determine whether an alternative abatement technique, based on tetraphenylphosphonium bromide, commonly referred to as TPP, could be used to allow the discharge limit to be reduced before 2006.

Timber

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is proposing to take on the recommendation of the ERM study into means of ensuring that government procurement policy sources legal and sustainable timber.

Michael Meacher: I am proposing to set up a central point of expertise on timber procurement (CPET) as recommended by the Consultants ERM. Its main activities will be to assess whether third party certification schemes and other independently verified evidence comply with the Government's requirements for its timber supplies and provide guidance for officials and suppliers.

Vital Villages Programme

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding is available in 2003–04 to the Countryside Agency's Vital Villages programme; and what funding is planned for 2004–05.

Alun Michael: The Countryside Agency currently has £17 million available in 2003–04 to fund the Vital Villages programme to help rural communities. I am pleased to say that demand for this funding is high and some £12 million has already been committed to grants in 2003–04.
	Planning figures for 2004–05 are extremely provisional until a number of reviews have been included, including Haskins Review of rural delivery and Defra's review of priorities set out in the Rural White Paper but for the time being a figure of £21 million has been included in the Agency's current corporate plan for 2004–05 for the Vital Villages programme.

Waste Management

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to make waste minimisation and recycling mandatory for the commercial sectors to achieve a reduction in overall commercial waste levels.

Michael Meacher: The Department has no plans to make waste minimisation or recycling mandatory for the commercial sectors. However, there are already a number of mechanisms in place that are designed to achieve an overall reduction in commercial waste levels.
	The Government have set a target to reduce, by 2005–06, the amount of commercial and industrial waste going to landfill to 85 per cent. of 1998 levels. Current estimates suggest that we are on course to meet this target.
	The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended) set targets for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste and provide incentives to minimise the amount of packaging handled. Between 1999 and 2002, the amount of packaging waste sent to landfill fell from 5.7 to 4.4 million tonnes, although the 2002 figure is still provisional at this stage. The Government will additionally be setting targets for the recovery and recycling of electrical equipment.
	The Government have entered into a voluntary agreement with the newspaper industry, which has seen recycled content of newspapers increase to well over the target of 60 per cent. last year. The Government are looking to enter into more agreements of this kind.
	Envirowise, is a Government funded business support programme dedicated to making businesses more resource efficient, saving money by minimising waste. Last year alone, Envirowise helped UK businesses to achieve annual cost savings of over £175 million, with a reduction of 1.6 million tonnes of solid waste. It also funds the Sustainable Technologies Initiative that provides funding for research and development projects aimed at minimising waste at source.
	Finally, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is helping to create stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products, and remove the barriers to waste minimisation, re-use and recycling. This should help to make all recycling more commercially viable, including that which is produced by the commercial sector.

Waste Management

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what incentives her Department is providing to local authorities to (a) offer effective and sustained educational resources for waste minimisation and recycling and (b) reduce the amount of waste that is exported to rural Bedfordshire;
	(2)  what steps are being taken by her Department to ensure that authorities in London and the South East act responsibly in their waste strategies to (a) minimise waste at source, (b) rapidly increase recycling and (c) reduce the need for waste to be exported; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what incentives she will provide to encourage the London and South East waste collection and waste disposal authorities to act in partnership to develop joint waste management strategies to minimise waste and increase recycling; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Strategy Unit Report 'Waste Not Want Not' recommended that the Waste Recycling Action Programme (WRAP) take forward a programme of public education and awareness. The Government has accepted this recommendation and WRAP is now in the process of drawing up the detail of the programme. The majority of the resources allocated to the programme will support local authority education schemes.
	The Government have provided funding to local authorities through the Waste Recycling and Minimisation fund to enable them to increase recycling and waste minimisation in their areas. This includes funding for education and awareness programmes
	We have issued guidance to local authorities on the production of Municipal Waste Management Strategies which states that the strategies will need to demonstrate how the authority will meet the objectives and targets set out in Waste Strategy 2000. We have set statutory performance standards (targets) for each local authority to increase their recycling and composting levels. A Strategy should therefore contain:
	high level objectives for the service including statutory performance standards; and a time scale for achieving these;
	a review of outcomes against previous targets or plans, and factors which have caused divergence;
	identification and analysis of available options.
	The Strategy should aim for the Best Practicable Environmental Option taking account of the proximity and self-sufficiency principles.
	The Mayor of London has an obligation to produce a Municipal Waste Management Strategy for London on which he has to consult interested parties including other authorities. The Strategy should be in line with the Waste Strategy 2000. The Mayor has been given powers of direction to enable implementation of his strategy.
	The Waste and Emissions Trading (WET) Bill will set landfill trading allowances for each local authority to limit the amount of waste that they can send to landfill. The Government have also announced that the WET Bill will be amended to require authorities in two tier areas (with some exceptions) to prepare a joint municipal Waste Strategy thus affording more opportunity for disposal and collection district authorities to work together.
	All of these factors together should help reduce the amount of waste that is exported to rural Bedfordshire.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Abandoned Vehicles

John Cummings: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many abandoned motor vehicles were collected in the district of Easington in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2002–03; and what the cost was to the local authority.

Michael Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
	The question on abandoned vehicles was asked for the first time in the 2000–01 Municipal Waste Management Survey. The numbers of abandoned vehicles reported by Easington district council are listed as follows:
	
		
			  Easington 
		
		
			 2000–01 14 
			 2001–02 24 
		
	
	The Department does not collect information on costs. Data for 2002–03 are not yet available.

Affordable Housing

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to revise the guidance given in Circular 6/98 with regard to the definition of affordable housing and the site size thresholds which trigger affordable housing planning gain.

Tony McNulty: "Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future" announced our intention to update the existing guidance on planning for affordable housing and, in particular, consult on allowing local authorities to seek affordable housing on smaller sites where this is justified. Any revision of the definition in Circular 6/98 would form part of this update.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of fires (a) in retail premises and (b) on farms were caused by arson in 2002.

Nick Raynsford: 2001 is the most recent year for which data are available. In 2001, of 5,687 fires in retail premises, 46 per cent. (2,474 fires) were malicious. Of 1,267 fires in agricultural premises, 38 per cent. (486 fires) were malicious. Malicious fires are those where malicious or deliberate ignition was proved or suspected.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many arson attacks there were on churches between 1998 and 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: Data are only available for all places of worship, which includes churches. The following table contains the information on malicious fires up to 2001, the most recent year for which data are available. Malicious fires are those where malicious or deliberate ignition was proved or suspected.
	
		Fires in places of worship, United Kingdom
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001(5) 
		
		
			 Malicious fires 120 175 142 167 
			 All fires 173 278 226 262 
		
	
	(5) Figures for 2001 are provisional

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many malicious car fires occurred in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: In 2000 there were 62,964 malicious car fires in the UK (from a total of 82,002 car fires). In 2001 there were 70,107 such fires (from a total of 88,242 car fires). Data are not yet available for 2002. Malicious fires are those where malicious or deliberate ignition was proved or suspected.
	Arson is one of the major fire threats facing us today. That is why in 1998 the Government commissioned a study into the arrangements for dealing with the problem of deliberate fire-setting. The study reported in 1999 and made a number of far-reaching recommendations; the most significant of which was the creation of the Government-led Arson Control Forum to provide the strategic direction to the national fight against arson. The forum was launched in April 2001. The forum is now taking forward a programme of preventative measures that address arson in its many guises. The forum continues to fund a number of locally based arson control initiatives and has issued guidance on a variety of arson related subjects.
	Car fires comprise a considerable element of the deliberate fires problem and Government have taken a number of steps to address this. New powers will enable local authorities to remove unlicensed vehicles more quickly and tighten vehicle registration procedures. Also, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is looking at ways to improve the links between the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and local councils to make it easier to trace the owners of derelict or abandoned vehicles.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homes were deliberately set on fire each day on average in 2002.

Nick Raynsford: In 2001, the most recent year for which data are available, there were 14,769 malicious fires on dwellings in the UK, an average of 40 per day. Malicious fires are those where malicious or deliberate ignition was proved or suspected.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the amount of money arson fires cost the UK in 2002.

Nick Raynsford: The most recent estimates are for 1999 and for England and Wales only. In that year it is estimated that arson cost the economy just under £2.1 billion.

Departmental Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the costs of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister were since it was established; what the planned expenditure is for 2004–05; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established as a result of the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002. The forecast gross administration resource expenditure for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, (including Government Offices but excluding its executive agencies) for 2002–03 is £269 million; and the planned gross administration resource expenditure for 2004–05 is £264 million. These figures exclude capital additions and related non-cash charges.

Flooding

Gregory Barker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department is taking to ensure house buyers are aware of the risks involved with purchasing houses built on a flood plain.

Tony McNulty: Under the Government's proposals for home information packs, prospective buyers will be provided with key information about homes marketed for sale. Flood risk information is one of the items being considered for inclusion in the pack as part of the standard search arrangements. This proposal is set out in a consultation paper, "Contents of the Home Information Pack", published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 31 March 2003.
	Prospective buyers and their professional advisers can already investigate flood risk. The Environment Agency publishes Indicative Floodplain Maps. These are available on the Agency's website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk in the section entitled "What's in your backyard". Prospective home buyers and their professional advisers can interrogate this site by post code to see the area in which a property is situated is at flood risk. More detailed information can be obtained from the local Environment Agency area office and from specialist commercial search companies. New homes should increasingly be located in accordance with the stronger planning guidance we issued in July 2001 in PPG25, "Development and Flood Risk", which sets out a sequential approach to the type of developments compatible with different levels of flood risk. To complement this new guidance, DTLR published, in February 2002, "Preparing for Floods". This sets out interim guidance for improving the flood resistance of all domestic and small business properties. It provides practical advice for existing owners whose properties are at risk of flooding and for those involved in constructing new properties or renovating old ones in flood risk areas. The information it contains is also of value to professionals advising purchasers on the flood resistant capabilities of properties within the mapped areas of flood risk.

Housing Transfers

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many large scale voluntary transfers of housing stock were made in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: There have been 116 large scale voluntary transfers (LSVTs) since 1997. The annual breakdown is tabled as follows.
	
		
			 Financial year Number of transfers 
		
		
			 1997–98 16 
			 1998–99 24 
			 1999–2000 27 
			 2000–01 18 
			 2001–02 8 
			 2002–03 23

Key Workers

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to include further education lecturers within the category eligible for key worker housing.

Tony McNulty: From 2004–05, funding for the provision of key worker housing will be integrated into the Housing Corporation's affordable housing programme and will target key public sector workers. The Housing Corporation expects to invite bids for key worker housing schemes at the same time as bids for other affordable housing schemes, in the autumn 2003. It will be made clear at that stage which key worker groups will qualify for assistance, taking into account the advice of regional housing boards.

Sustainable Development

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what remit relating to sustainable development is (a) required and (b) undertaken by his Department's (i) executive agencies, (ii) advisory non-departmental bodies, (iii) executive non-departmental bodies, (iv) tribunals, (v) public corporations and (vi) other bodies.

Christopher Leslie: Departments have a remit to fulfil the "Framework for Sustainable Development" on the Government Estate. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister works to ensure it meets all agreed targets, and where possible, assists all of its agencies and non-departmental public bodies to do so.

Telephone Masts

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will abolish the 42-day rule for local authorities to refuse a notice for the erection of a telephone mast and replace it with a legal requirement that the erection of all masts should be the subject of a planning application.

Tony McNulty: On 22 August 2001, the Government significantly strengthened the planning arrangements for telecommunications development. One change was to increase the time for authorities to deal with prior approval applications from 28 and 42 days to a uniform 56 days. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister strengthened public consultation requirements on mast proposals of 15 metres and below and for masts on buildings and structures so that they are exactly the same as applications for planning permission. We have no plans to change these arrangements.
	The arrangements of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister give authorities more time to consider proposals, but with consent deemed to be granted if no decision has been made after 56 days so that development is not delayed. This discipline is needed because many authorities are failing to meet their Best Value targets for determining planning applications. Authorities are able to turn down mast applications where they do not consider amenity aspects have been adequately addressed. The arrangements strike the right balance between improving consultation with local people and ensuring that the decision-making process is not open-ended, thus giving the 50 million people who use mobile phones the service they want.

Telephone Masts

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received during the past 12 months requesting that the 42-day rule for local authorities to refuse a notice for the erection of a telephone mast should be extended; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: In August 2001, we increased the time for authorities to deal with prior approval applications from 28 and 42 days to a uniform 56 days. There are no plans to extend this period of time at present. The Government receive many representations on matters relating to the telecommunications industry, but we are not aware of any particular representations to extend the period for prior approval.

Waste Management

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the capacity of (a) incineration, (b) composting and (c) recycling plants for the years 1999 to 2002; what the estimated capacity will be for the years 2003 to 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table gives the information available from the Environment Agency on the capacity of facilities for incineration, biological and physical treatment methods for licensed sites. The biological category covers composting, anaerobic digestion and other biological processes that change the properties of waste, while physical treatment covers processes such as filtration and sorting. Figures are not available separately for the capacity of composting and recycling facilities. The figures are the latest and only ones available for the years in question.
	
		
			  Facility Capacity(Thousand tonnes) 
		
		
			 1998–99 Incineration 4,501 
			
			 2000–01 Biological treatment 16,096 
			
			 2000–01 Physical treatment 18,226 
		
	
	Estimates of future capacity are not available.

TRANSPORT

Disabled Parking Permits

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figures he has collated on the number of disabled parking permits that have gone missing in the post after being issued in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.

David Jamieson: There is no legal requirement for local authorities to hold such records and the Department does not currently ask for that information as part of its annual blue badge statistical survey of local authorities in England. The devolved administrations are responsible for the scheme in other parts of the UK.
	The issues of misuse and abuse of badges were considered as part of the recent review of the Blue Badge scheme. In concluding the review some 47 recommendations were made to Ministers through the Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee, the Department's statutory advisers on the transport needs of disabled people, including a number of enforcement measures. The Government accepted most of these and will be taken them forward at the earliest opportunity. A summary of the recommendations and the Government's response to them was placed in the Libraries of the House on 18 December 2002.

A75

Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review the speed limit for heavy goods vehicles on the A75 euro route between Gretna and Stranraer.

David Jamieson: This is a matter for the Scottish Assembly.

Congestion Charging

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the impact of congestion charging.

David Jamieson: The London congestion charging scheme is the responsibility of the mayor, not the Government. However, Ministers have regular meetings with the mayor at which a wide range of transport matters are discussed.

Energy Efficiency

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what targets his Department has for improving energy efficiency; and how he intends to achieve these targets.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Fisheries, Water and Nature Protection (Mr. Morley) on 9 June 2003, Official Report column 581W.

Equal Pay

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on completing a pay audit in his Department and its non-departmental public bodies to measure any disadvantage in terms of remuneration for (a) women, (b) ethnic minorities and (c) people with disabilities; and if he will publish the results of such an audit.

David Jamieson: My Department and its agencies have completed the review of their pay systems encompassing women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities. Action plans for each have been produced. These will be placed in the Libraries of the House in due course after full consideration has been given to the issues identified.
	NDPBs carried out reviews as a matter of good practice. As there was no formal commitment for them to do so, publication will not apply.

Football (Policing Costs)

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officers from the transport police were involved in policing the England football match at Leicester on 3 June; and what the cost was to the police.

David Jamieson: The British Transport Police (BTP) have advised me that 70 officers were involved in policing the England v. Serbia football match at Leicester on 3 June 2003. The final cost to the BTP was just under £10,000.

Heathrow Airport

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made on the effect in terms of air traffic movements if the Crawford arrangement of Heathrow airport were ended.

David Jamieson: Ending the restriction on easterly departures from Heathrow's northern runway, known as the Cranford Agreement, would not on its own have any effect on the runway capacity of the airport. To raise the capacity of Heathrow's existing runways by the introduction of a 'mixed mode' pattern operations would require termination or amendment of the runway alternation scheme and the Cranford Agreement. The Government have no plans to introduce mixed mode.

Highway Winter Maintenance

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) life expectancy and (b) total maintenance repair costs are of (i) vehicles and equipment involved in road gritting operations using rock salt as the primary de-icing material and (ii) vehicles and equipment not involved in such operations.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Peter Robinson, dated 10 June 2003
	I have been asked by the Transport Minister, David Jamieson to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the life expectancy and maintenance repair costs of vehicles and equipment involved in road gritting operations and those not involved in road gritting.
	The prime de-icing material used on roads in the UK is rock salt to BS 3247, or equivalent. The exception is on sensitive structures, such as the elevated sections of the Midlands Link and some bridge decks. Salt used on HA contracts has a maximum particle size of 6mm, this size being chosen as it gives a more uniform spread and readily goes into solution.
	The purpose built salt spreading vehicles designed and owned by the Highways Agency and operated by our Agents were designed with an economic life of 20 years. They were designed from the outset to be resistant to the corrosive effect of salt with special materials and protection incorporated in their design. The HA paid a premium over the cost of a standard salt spreader of 15% for these aspects.
	The vehicles are maintained to standards laid down by the HA and average maintenance costs are in the region of £6000.00 per annum per vehicle. The average age of the HA fleet is currently 10 years old and routine examinations demonstrate that they will fully meet their design life.
	Equipment owned and operated by Agents and Local Authorities is specified to varying standards, from the lower specification type, which has a design life of 7 to 8 years to the higher specification equipment operated by some of the Design, Build, Finance and Operate companies with longer running contracts and a commercial view on reliability. Maintenance costs for the lower specification equipment can be high due to the poor design and lack of non-corroding materials used in their construction.
	The HA has no maintenance figures for vehicles not employed on other duties as these vehicles are provided by Agents.
	If you would like further information Graham Rainbow at our Birmingham office would be pleased to help you. His telephone number is 0121 678 8008.

Highway Winter Maintenance

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his estimate is of the annual cost of corrosion on the highways maintenance budgets; and what proportion of that cost can be attributed to (a) structural maintenance and (b) repair of roads and infrastructure necessitated by corrosion from salt used for safety purposes each winter.

David Jamieson: Information is not held to estimate annual highway maintenance costs due to corrosion alone.
	There are many other causes of deterioration on structures, such as physical damage, chemical attack, water damage, weathering and general wear and tear, and sometimes they occur concurrently with the corrosion mechanisms. Structures maintenance work addresses all these deterioration processes.
	Approximately 95 per cent. of the trunk road is made of bituminous materials where corrosion is not an issue.

Highways Agency

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources were allocated to the Highways Agency in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The resources allocated to, and consumed by, the Highways Agency in each year since 1997 are identified in Agency's published annual Business Plans for the years 1996–97 to 2003–04 and Annual Report and Accounts for the years 1996–97 to 2001–02.

Hotel Accommodation

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on hotel accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) others, and if he will list the average cost per hotel room, in each year since 1997.

David Jamieson: The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All accommodation booked by Civil Servants is in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code.
	The Government publish an annual report of ministerial travel overseas. The total cost of ministerial travel provided in the annual report includes the costs of accommodation. The information sought in respect of accommodation within the UK is not held centrally. All travel is conducted in line with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.

Pensioners (Free Travel)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with local authorities regarding free travel for pensioners.

David Jamieson: There have been no recent discussions with local authorities regarding free travel for pensioners.

Pensioners (Free Travel)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with pensioners groups regarding national free travel for the elderly.

David Jamieson: The Minister of State for Transport (John Spellar) met representatives from the National Pensioners' Convention on 7 April 2003, when the matter was discussed.

Rail Freight

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many freight train miles were travelled in (a) 1997 and (b) the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The figure for freight train kilometres for 1997–98 is 34,331 thousand kilometres. The figure for 2001–02 (the last complete year for which figures are available) is 49,105 thousand kilometres.

Rail Services (Disabled Access)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on people with disabilities, who have the use of a motorised scooter, having access to the rail network; whether he has discussed this issue with the rail industry; what guidance he has issued to them; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Scooters are intended to provide local outdoor mobility for disabled people. The majority of train operating companies, and indeed other transport operators, will not carry scooters. Many are physically too big to fit in a train or a bus and are not sufficiently stable to travel safely in vehicles.
	It is a matter for individual operators to decide what is safe and appropriate for their particular type of operation.
	The regulations that have been introduced under the Disability Discrimination Act to require access for disabled people to trains and buses specify the maximum wheelchair dimensions that need to be accommodated. These dimensions are based on the international wheelchair standard and are bigger than the great majority of wheelchairs in this country. They are not, however, intended to accommodate scooters. They were set after extensive consultation and with the agreement of our statutory advisers on disability the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC).
	We have been working with the wheelchair manufacturing industry to produce guidance for disabled people on the compatibility of the full range of currently available products with public transport. That guidance will be published very shortly.

Road Accidents

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken by his Department to reduce the number of accidents involving (a) cyclists, (b) pedestrians and (c) motorcyclists; and if he will list his Department's advisers on accident reduction.

David Jamieson: Our Road Safety Strategy, "Tomorrow's Roads—Safer for Everyone", published in March 2000, set out the Department's proposals for achieving casualty reductions for all road-users, including cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists. The Road Safety Advisory Panel, whose membership represents road safety expertise both within and outside government, reviews progress being made and discusses a wide range of relevant issues.

Thelwall Viaduct

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work on the Thelwall viaduct on the M6 will be completed; and who will bear the costs incurred.

David Jamieson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Mr. Neil Turner, dated 10 June 2003
	I have been asked by David Jamieson to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about on-going works to the northbound bridge of the M6 Motorway Thelwall Viaduct, in Warrington, Cheshire. As you may be aware, this matter was the subject of an Adjournment Debate in the House on 12 May, secured by Helen Southworth MP.
	The Highways Agency is responsible for the operation, management, maintenance, and improvement, of the trunk road and motorway network in England, including the Thelwall Viaduct, which typically carries some 150,000—160,000 vehicles per day. All but one lane of the viaduct carrying northbound traffic was closed in July 2002 following the discovery of a failed roller bearing. Detailed investigations were urgently earned out and these revealed other failures in the bridge roller bearings. Continuing intensive investigations found that all 136 roller bearings on the northbound viaduct should be replaced, before further traffic lanes can be opened on that structure. As you may be aware, the Minister stated during the Adjournment Debate, that it might take until March 2005 to complete all the remedial work. The Minister also acknowledged that the cost of the remedial work is likely to be substantial, but did not wish to say anything further on that aspect, given that the question of liability for the failed roller bearings is likely to be decided through litigation and the courts. Notwithstanding that, he also said that funds would be made available to the Agency to enable the remedial work to be carried out.
	The current restrictions comprise three narrow lanes in each direction on the new southbound viaduct and a single lane on the northbound viaduct, to facilitate traffic leaving the M6 at Junction 21, for Warrington. There are advance warning signs on all the motorway approaches to the works advising of likely delays, but there is no convenient diversion route using the motorway network. We will continue to monitor traffic patterns closely and keep under review all possible diversion routes to mitigate the effect of the restrictions.
	Laboratory testing and investigations into how the roller bearings have failed is substantially complete. These findings are being used to inform the design process for the replacement of the bearings and associated works required to bring the structure back fully into long-term service.
	The Agency is conscious of the need to re-open the northbound viaduct as soon as is practicable, and is investigating the possibility of phasing the work to secure the early release of additional traffic lanes on that structure.
	I hope this is helpful. If you would like any further information about this matter, you may wish to contact the Agency's Project Manager for the viaduct repairs, David Brindle, Room 406, Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, Ml 4BE (Tel 0161 930 5653).

Thelwall Viaduct

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research was undertaken on the impact of corrosion from de-icing chemicals on the bridge bearings of the Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 at the design stage; and what research has been undertaken since into alternative technologies that could reduce the levels of corrosion.

David Jamieson: The risk of corrosion from environmental pollutants including de-icing chemicals on Thelwell Viaduct was minimised by using stainless steel and provision of enclosures (skirts) around the steel roller bearings. The majority of the bearing locations do not have expansion joints at the road level, thus reducing the risk of surface water and de-icing salts reaching the surfaces of the roller bearings.
	The effectiveness of non-corrosive de-icing agents has been researched over many years in UK and other countries. There are limitations on their effectiveness at low temperatures and the use of rock salt is then necessary. Such agents are used in the UK on some major bridges where the higher cost can be justified in whole life terms.

Travel Costs

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the relative changes in the cost of travel by rail, bus and car over the last 20 years; and what estimate he has made of the future changes under the 10 year plan.

David Jamieson: Real changes in the cost of different transport modes between 1974 and 1999 was shown in Graph 3c on page 22 of "Transport 2010: The Ten Year Plan" available in the Libraries of the House.
	The Department's latest forecasts for 2010 use a set of assumptions about the costs of travel in 2010, including future oil prices, fuel efficiency, and rail and bus fares. These assumptions are set out in "Modelling and Forecasting using the National Transport Model" (paragraphs 14 and 15). This document is available at www.transtat.dft.gov.uk/roadtraf/modelling/index.htm. These assumptions will be reviewed and updated as necessary as part of the review of the 10 Year Plan.

Trust Ports

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what trust ports are classified as public corporations.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 5 March 2003, Official Report, columns 1034–35W.

Uninsured Drivers

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the overall cost of uninsured driving was in Britain in the latest year for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the average consequent increase upon a motorist's insurance premium.

David Jamieson: Estimates from the insurance industry show that, in 2002, the cost of uninsured driving was £316 million. This is a running figure, which includes cases arising from accidents that happened (and were settled) during 2002 and also accidents occurring in previous years but only settled in 2002.
	The resulting increase in each motorist's insurance premiums is estimated at between £15 and £30.

TREASURY

Capita Contracts

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what analysis has been carried out by Government to establish, in respect of government contracts awarded to Capita, whether they have been delivered (a) on time, (b) within budget and (c) in accordance with the terms specified; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Office of Government Commerce, with the support of Government Departments, has identified a number of key suppliers to Government and has been working over the last year to improve our knowledge and strategic management of those suppliers, including Capita. The performance of Capita in respect of individual contracts is the responsibility of Departments who have entered into those contracts. Information about those contracts is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Euro (Northern Ireland)

David Burnside: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact on the agricultural sector in Northern Ireland if the UK joins the euro at the present exchange rate.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the Treasury's assessment of the five economic tests that was published on 9 June 2003 following the Chancellor's statement to the House of Commons (Cm 5776).

River Swimming Accidents

Paul Marsden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many children in each year since 1997 have died in swimming accidents in rivers.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 10 June 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many children in each year since 1997 have died in swimming accidents in rivers. (117580)
	The most recent available mortality data are for the calendar year 2001. Figures for each year from 1997 to 2001 are given in the table below.
	
		Number of deaths by accidental drowning and submersion(6), children(7), England and Wales, 1997 to 2001(8)
		
			  Accidental drowning and submersion 
			 Calendar year All Swimming accidents in rivers 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997 34 0 
			 1998 27 0 
			 1999 43 1 
			 2000 29 1 
			 2001 21 0 
		
	
	(6) The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (1CD-9)
	codes for the years 1997 to 2000, and, for the year 2001, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. The codes used were as follows:
	All accidental drowning and submersion—ICD-9 E91O, ICD-10 W65-W74;
	Swimming accidents occurring in rivers—ICD-9 E910.2-E910.3, ICD-10 W69.8 and W74.8, where 'river' and 'swimming' were mentioned on the text of the death certificate.
	(7) Children were classified as deaths occurring to persons aged 10 to 15.
	(8) Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Alternative Fuels

Candy Atherton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to lower the duty rate on alternative fuels.

John Healey: The Chancellor considers all relevant economic, social and environmental factors when deciding taxation policy. Any changes are announced by the Chancellor in the context of his Budget statement.

Asbestos

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the actions his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies are taking to comply with the requirements of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002; whether he has made an estimate of the cost of compliance; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Departments for which the Chancellor is responsible have set up arrangements to achieve compliance with the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 through contracts with private contractors or landlords as appropriate. Separate estimates of the costs of compliance are only available in some cases. The position in the different Departments is as follows:
	Customs & Excise, Inland Revenue and the Valuation Office seek to achieve compliance with contractors or landlords through detailed contractual arrangements. These include a requirement for asbestos surveys and the maintenance of accurate records.
	The Treasury has engaged the services of an asbestos consultant to verify the absence of asbestos.
	The Government Actuary's Department assure compliance through their landlord and are about to relocate to a new building.
	The Office for National Statistics, through their contractor, is about to commence a detailed Asbestos Survey estimated to cost approximately £80,000. National Savings, through their landlord, have surveyed sites to ensure compliance with the new regulations. Remedial work has commenced and costs are estimated at less than £1 million. The Royal Mint, through consultancy, are in the process of reviewing compliance via audit at a cost of no more than £1,500.
	The Debt Management Office ensures compliance through agreement with its Managing Agents.
	The Office of Government Commerce has carried out surveys of some of its properties, and will carry out surveys of the remainder in the next three months. The cost of the surveys and inspections will be approximately £28,000. The cost of remedial work commissioned to date is £213,000.

Benefit Take-up

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken to ensure that individuals who are entitled to receive working families tax credit, child tax credit and minimum income guarantee or pensioners tax credit apply for these benefits.

Dawn Primarolo: For Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 10 February 2003, Official Report, column 604W. Since that date further publicity has included television, press, radio and online advertising as well as direct mail to existing recipients.
	In respect of the minimum income guarantee I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions that his Department have continued to build on the success of the national MIG take up campaign by introducing a shortened claim form, a new information leaflet and identifying potential entitlement following key life events such as reaching certain age points and new awards of other benefits.
	For Pension Credit I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Pensions to my hon. Friend the Member for Knowsley, South (Mr. O'Hara) on 24 March 2003, Official Report, column 108W. Since that date The Pension Service have completed writing to around 1.8 million pensioners who currently receive the minimum income guarantee to advise them that they need to do nothing and that they will be automatically transferred to Pension Credit.

Child/Working Tax Credit

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people in Scotland are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of the child tax credit, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) parliamentary constituency;
	(2)  how many people in Scotland are (a) eligible and (b) in receipt of the working tax credit, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) parliamentary constituency.

Dawn Primarolo: It is estimated that 430,000 families in Scotland are expected to receive the child tax credit and 90,000 families are expected to receive the working tax credit (including some who are also expected to receive the child tax credit). Estimates are not available for each local authority or parliamentary constituency.
	Statistics on awards of these tax credits will be published in August.

Council Tax

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answers of 27 March 2003, Official Report, columns 335–36W, on council tax, if he will update his answers using the effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Matthew Taylor, dated 10 June 2003
	As National Statistician. I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for an update for 2001–02 of the figures for council tax given in the previous answer of 27 March 2003 for 2000–01. (118271)
	Estimates for council taxes and income are based on the analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02" produced by the ONS and published on the National Statistics website on 11 April 2003 and in Economic Trends in the May 2003 edition. The analysis can be obtained from the House of Commons Library. This includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey.
	The following table shows the estimated gross and net council tax for all households in Great Britain and (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales, for each income quintile where households are ranked by equivalised disposable income. The net council tax figures are gross council tax less benefits and discounts. The table also shows the equivalised disposable income quintile point boundaries, which have been calculated separately for Great Britain and each country. For example, the first quintile point for each country is the income below which one fifth of households in that country are estimated to lie.
	
		Council tax as a percentage of gross income, 2001–02 -- Great Britain Percentages
		
			  Quintile groups of all households ranked by equivalised disposable income All  
			  Bottom  Second  Third  Fourth  Top households 
		
		
			  Quintile points (equivalised disposable income, £ per year) 
			 Great Britain  10,448  14,822  20,138  28,746   
			 England  10,578  15,006  20,548  29,269   
			 Scotland  9,846  13,574  18,404  26,409   
			 Wales  9,934  14,174  18,259  25,245   
			 Gross council tax 
			 Great Britain 7.1  4.4  3.1  2.3  1.4 2.5 
			 England 7.1  4.3  3.0  2.2  1.3 2.5 
			 Scotland 8.4  5.3  3.8  3.0  2.1 3.4 
			 Wales 6.2  3.4  2.6  2.1  1.4 2.3 
			 Net council tax(9) 
			 Great Britain 4.7  3.3  2.8  2.2  1.4 2.2 
			 England 4.6  3.3  2.8  2.2  1.3 2.1 
			 Scotland 5.0  4.0  3.3  2.9  2.1 2.9 
			 Wales 4.2  2.5  2.4  2.0  1.3 2.0 
		
	
	(9) Net council taxes after deducting benefits and discounts.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income' published on the ONS website and in Economic Trends No. 594 May 2003

Hotel Accommodation

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on hotel accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) others; and if he will list the average cost per hotel room, in each year since 1997.

John Healey: Figures for amounts spent on hotel accommodation for staff could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Figures for total travel and subsistence for Treasury civil servants, which include hotel accommodation, are given in the tables. All travel is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.
	
		Travel and subsistence spend for Treasury and agencies' civil servants
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Core Treasury 1,069 1,455 1,619 11,718 1,611 2,019 
			 DMO  9 26 9 17 25 
			 OGC1,518 2,020 2,124 
		
	
	Note:
	The Debt Management Office did not exist as a separate body prior to 1998–99. The Office of Government Commerce did not exist as a separate body prior to 2000–01. OGC figures include OGCbuying.solutions
	The Government publish an annual report of ministerial travel overseas. The total cost of ministerial travel provided in the annual report includes the costs of accommodation. The information sought in respect of accommodation within the UK is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All travel is conducted in line with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.

Equal Pay

Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made on completing a pay audit in his Department and its non-departmental public bodies to measure any disadvantage in terms of remuneration for (a) women, (b) ethnic minorities and (c) people with disabilities; and if he will publish the results of such an audit.

John Healey: The Treasury has completed the Equal Pay Review, this was undertaken jointly with the Unions. The final report has been agreed by both parties and was submitted to the Cabinet Office by end of April 2003. In due course the report will be made available to all staff and lodged in the Library of the House.
	Although the audit does not specifically cover ethnic minorities and people with disabilities, the Treasury will be undertaking a review of these areas by the end of December 2003.

EU Savings Tax Directive

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the ruling of the President of the Court of the First Instance of the European Communities that the imposition of the EU Savings Tax Directive on Britain's Overseas Territories is not a legal requirement that flows from the Directive itself.

Dawn Primarolo: The EU Taxation of Savings Directive is directly applicable to the member states of the European Union. It is not directly applicable to the dependent and associated territories named in the Feira agreement. However, the Directive will not come into effect until arrangements are in place with such territories to apply the same measures as in the Directive.

Investment Services Directive

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with (a) the Financial Services Authority and (b) the London Stock Exchange with regard to the proposed Investment Services Directive.

Paul Boateng: The Investment Services Directive is one of the topics discussed when Treasury Ministers meet members of the Financial Services Authority and those involved in the financial services industry.
	At official level, the Treasury and FSA (together with the Bank of England and the UK's Permanent Representation to the European Community) have a joint project team working on the proposed Directive. The project team has frequent contact with representatives of the London Stock Exchange, as well as representatives of many other financial services businesses, trade associations and consumer groups.

Investment Services Directive

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the proposed investment services directive being considered by the European Parliament;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect the proposed investment services directive will have on the level of competition in the share dealing market in the UK.

Paul Boateng: The European Commission adopted a proposal for a revised investment services directive on 19 November 2002. Discussions on the proposal started in Council working groups in January and are on-going. The European Parliament is due to begin its first reading of the proposed directive in July.
	The Government believe that the proposed directive should be assessed against the following objectives:
	(a) to reduce the cost of capital in the EU by removing barriers to the supply of investment and market infrastructure services and addressing informational asymmetries in the retail market; and
	(b) to maintain the integrity of the financial system.
	Accordingly, the Government welcome in broad terms many of the Commission's proposals—and the progress made in Council working group discussions to improve these proposals. However, the Government remain concerned about several important issues, which need to be addressed before agreement can be reached.
	In particular, the Government believe that the proposal for introducing a mandatory quote disclosure rule for investment firms would undermine competition between trading venues and discourage liquidity provision, leading to less efficient markets and worse outcomes for retail investors.
	The Government also believe that investors should continue to be allowed to make use of low cost, efficient, execution-only services. As such, investment firms should have to assess the suitability of particular products for their clients only when providing them with advice.
	The Government believe that there are ways in which the proposed directive should be amended in order to remove measures that could unnecessarily inhibit competition in the share dealing market—and thereby increase the potential benefits for consumers, including retail investors. Efforts are currently being made to secure these beneficial amendments to the draft directive.

Investment Services Directive

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he and the agencies for which he is responsible have commissioned into the cost of the proposed investment services directive for stockbrokers; and if he will publish the results.

Paul Boateng: The Treasury has had extensive discussions with representatives of financial services businesses and trade associations to ascertain the impact of the proposed investment services directive on the financial markets. These contacts have included a consideration of the potential costs—and benefits—of the proposed directive for stockbrokers.

Online Share Dealing

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the effect the proposed Investment Services Directive will have on the level of online share dealing.

Paul Boateng: The Government have considered the effect of the proposed Investment Services Directive on the level of online share trading.
	The Government believe that the proposed requirement for firms to carry out a suitability test before executing client orders would add significant costs to online share dealing services. These additional costs are likely to deter both firms from offering such services and customers from demanding them. Other things being equal, the proposed Directive would therefore be expected to reduce the level of online share trading.
	The Government believe it is important to ensure that execution-only business, such as online share dealing, is not compromised by over-burdensome and unnecessary regulation. We see such business as a helpful market development that facilitates freedom of choice and provides low cost access to a wider range of investors, thus allowing greater participation in securities markets.
	The Government are making every effort to ensure that the draft Directive is amended in such a way that will allow execution-only business—including online share dealing—to continue.

Online Share Dealing

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of online share dealing was in each financial year since 1997.

Paul Boateng: Below are figures for the value of online share dealing for the financial years since 1999 (the first full financial year in which data were collected). These figures are taken from a survey conducted for the Association of Private Client Investment Managers and Stockbrokers by ComPeer.
	1999—£5.5 billion
	2000—£9.6 billion
	2001—£8.8 billion
	2002—£8.3 billion.

Partnership Agreements

Angela Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there are any plans to conclude a partnership agreement with the trade unions representing the staff in his Department.

John Healey: The Treasury has a long established tradition of having a good working relationship with the trade union side. The trade unions make an important contribution to work in relation to diversity, disability and health and safety. In addition to annual pay negotiations, regular meetings are held and a wide range of topics are discussed.

Prostate Cancer

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Vernon Coaker, dated 10 June 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in each of the last 10 years. (117899)
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer are for 1999. The number of registrations of newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer in England for the ten year period 1990–99 are given in the table below.
	
		Registrations of newly diagnosed cases for prostate cancer in England, 1990–99
		
			  Malignant neoplasm of prostate(10) 
		
		
			 1990 12,810 
			 1991 13,328 
			 1992 14,885 
			 1993 16,263 
			 1994 18,416 
			 1995 19,041 
			 1996 19,201 
			 1997 18,961 
			 1998 19,590 
			 1999 20,850 
		
	
	(10) For the year 1991 to 1994. International Classification of Diseases. Ninth Revision Code (ICD-9). code 185.
	Note:
	For the years 1995 to 1999. International Classification of Diseases. Tenth Revision (ICD-10). code C61.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics.

Regulatory Bodies

Tim Yeo: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff are employed by, and what the budget is of each regulatory body for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

John Healey: HM Treasury is the Department with lead responsibility for overseeing the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The FSA is a private company which operates independently from the Government. It sets its own budget, funded by a levy on the firms it regulates, and determines its own staffing levels. Details are available in the FSA's Annual Report, which is presented to Parliament.

Royal Mint

Christopher Chope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken by the Royal Mint in response to the verdict of an inquest jury on 2 May 2003, that one of its employees was the victim of unlawful killing; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Royal Mint has always taken its responsibilities towards safety seriously and deeply regrets the death of one of its employees in an accident at the Mint in June 2001. The Mint worked closely and constructively with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) throughout its investigation into the accident, and has incorporated significant improvements into its overall safety procedures. No further action was required of the Mint in response to the verdict of the inquest jury.

Tax Credit Helpline

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answers of 15 May 2003, Official Report, column 384W, to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West, and of 8 May 2003, Official Report, column 719W, to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable), on the Tax Credit helpline, what additional resources were allocated to the handling of callers to the helpline; and what assessment he has made of the impact which the additional resources have had on the helpline service.

Dawn Primarolo: I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement I made to the House on 28 April when I explained that the Inland Revenue had moved an additional 700 staff on to handling callers to the Tax Credit helpline. The helpline continues to be very busy, although as I said on 4 June 2003, Official Report, column 121WH, the number of calls to the helpline has fallen and the pressure is easing as the numbers of awards and payments rise.

Tax Credits

Mr. Duncan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many emergency interim payments have been issued in respect of tax credit assessment errors in each week since 6 April.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available. An interim payment of tax credits may be made where we believe a family is due to tax credits but has not yet received payment, if the family would otherwise experience hardship.

Tax Credits

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the impact on other Inland Revenue functions of the transfer of local Inland Revenue staff to assist with problems associated with the implementation of the new tax credits system; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hamilton, South (Mr. Tynan) on 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 201W.

Tax Credits

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the reception to and uptake of the new research and development tax credit amongst the business community.

John Healey: Rand D tax credits for companies that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs) were introduced in Budget 2000 and extended to larger companies in Budget 2002 to promote commercial R and D in the UK. The credits have been welcomed by business, and take up continues to increase, with 3,000 claims anticipated by SMEs in 2001–02, the latest year for which we have data.

Tax Evasion

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cautions and prosecutions have been proceeded with for tax evasion in each year since 2000; how much money was involved; what the total was of the penalties; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Details of prosecutions by the Revenue are published in their Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the House Library. The total amount of tax that was the subject of criminal offences successfully prosecuted by the Inland Revenue in 2000–01 and 2001–02 was:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			  
			  
			 2001–02 6,201,945 
			 2000–01 6,599,539 
		
	
	Penalties are not relevant in criminal cases sentencing is a matter for the Courts: however IR pursue criminal confiscation where appropriate and in 2001–02 obtained 15 orders worth a total of £3.77 million.

Tobacco Smuggling

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the external research used in 'Tackling Tobacco Smuggling.'

John Healey: Relevant extracts from some routinely collected external data were used in the production of certain figures for 'Tackling Tobacco Smuggling', and the same data for subsequent years has been used in the documents 'Tackling Indirect Tax Fraud' and 'Protecting Indirect Tax Revenue', all of which are published.
	Other external research to inform Tackling Tobacco Strategy was undertaken by Martin Taylor and in respect of that I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat Amory), on 5 April 2000, Official Report, column 491W. Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies to the disclosure of Mr. Taylor's advice.

Welsh Language Helpline

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information has been provided to the public since last autumn through the Inland Revenue's Welsh language helpline; what the cost was; what information has been provided through the helpline specifically on working tax and child tax credit; and what proportion of expenditure this represented.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's Welsh Language Contact Centre opened in November 2002. It handles calls from customers who would like to conduct business through the medium of Welsh across the full range of the Inland Revenue's activities, including tax, national insurance and Tax Credits.
	In a full year the cost of running the unit is estimated to be £300,000. The Contact Centre aims to provide the same level of information, guidance and support on working tax and child tax credit as the English language counterparts.
	The cost of providing information and support about working tax and child tax credit in Welsh has not been recorded separately from the overall cost of operating the centre.

World Poverty Reduction

Martin Caton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution the UK is making to ensure that the 2015 targets for reducing world poverty are met.

John Healey: Making progress on the 2015 Millennium Development Goals is a joint HM Treasury Public Service Agreement with the Department for International Development.
	The Government has made substantial increases to the aid budget. The UK's level of ODA will increase by £1.5 billion to reach 0.40 per cent. of GNI in 2005–06. This is the largest ever increase in UK aid, making a 93 per cent. real terms increase since 1997.
	By 2005–06, DflD's budget will grow to nearly £4.6 billion a year by 2005–06, including a £1 billion bilateral programme for Africa.
	However, to meet these goals. a UN panel and the world bank have estimated that the current level of aid will have to double. The UK Government continues to press the urgent case for an International Finance Facility to raise the additional finance needed.
	Agreement was made in the Communiques of recent G7 and G8 meetings to continue to focus on the Millennium Development Goals, and their financing, including the International Finance Facility. Finance Ministers' will report back to Heads of State on the IFF in advance of the Annual Meeting of the world bank and International Monetary Fund in September 2003.

WALES

English Patients

Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients who are English residents have been treated in Welsh hospitals for each of the last five years for which records are available; and if he will list (a) the top 10 procedures carried out on such patients and (b) the numbers of each procedure carried out.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the following tables:
	Table 1 shows the number of patients who are English residents who have been treated in Welsh hospitals for each year from 1998 to 2002.
	Table 2 shows the top 10 procedures carried out on such patients and the numbers of procedures carried out over the last five years.
	
		Number of English residents treated in Wales from 1998 to date
		
			 Admission year English patients 
		
		
			 1998 11,251 
			 1999 10,942 
			 2000 10,970 
			 2001 (11)11,319 
			 2002 (11)12,476 
		
	
	(11) Data for 2001 and 2002 is provisional and subject to amendment.
	
		Top 10 procedures carried out on English residents treated in Wales 1998–2002
		
			 Procedure name English patients 
		
		
			 1. Other closed reduction of fracture of bone 1,019 
			 2. Normal delivery 971 
			 3. Continuous infusion of therapeutic substance 877 
			 4. Prosthesis of lens 863 
			 5. Diagnostic endoscopic examination of bladder 752 
			 6. Other intravenous injection 676 
			 7. Primary open reduction of fracture of bone and intramed 658 
			 8. Primary open reduction of fracture of bone and extramed 541 
			 9. Other operations on penis 450 
			 10. Diagnostic fibreoptic endoscopic exam/upper gastrointe 424 
		
	
	Source:
	Health Solutions Wales. Information provided to the third character rubric.

Future of Europe Convention

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many days in the last three months he has spent attending the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Peter Hain: Nine.

Ministerial Meetings

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what meetings he has held with (a) Education Secretaries in the National Assembly for Wales, (b) the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales and (c) the Secretary of State for Education to discuss the subject of higher education funding in Wales since the publication of the Government's White Paper.

Peter Hain: There have a number of meetings of Ministers and officials between the National Assembly for Wales, the Department for Education and Skills and the Wales Office to discuss funding of support for students in higher education in Wales since the publication of the Government's White Paper on the future of higher education.

Ministerial Visits

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list each official visit in Wales he and his predecessors made since 1997, broken down by (a) constituency and (b) purpose of visit.

Peter Hain: The information requested is not held on that basis. However, since the creation of the Wales Office in 1999, my predecessor and I have undertaken a wide range of visits and official engagements in Wales. These have included visits to local employers, police authorities, universities and voluntary organisations, farms and tourism outlets and local authorities. I have also addressed a number of major conferences and given keynote speeches to a variety of organisations in Wales.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

European Television Programming

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who is responsible for enforcing the quota for original European television programming specified in Television Without Frontiers; what steps have been taken so far; who will be responsible after the enactment of the Communications Bill; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: To date, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has been responsible for reporting to the European Commission, biennially, in accordance with Article 4.3 of the Television Without Frontiers Directive. Performance by UK licensed broadcasters has been considered by the Commission in accordance with Articles 4 and 5, and therefore, no enforcement action has been required.
	Future responsibility for quota provisions will be a matter for discussion between this Department and Ofcom.

National Lottery

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will ensure that the proportion of Lottery money currently provided to the voluntary and community sector will be protected and ring-fenced if a new lottery game is established following a successful London bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Richard Caborn: Current estimates suggest that hypothecated Olympic Lottery games would have only a modest impact on the flow of income to the established good causes. The arts, sport, heritage and charities will continue to receive at least their current percentage shares of all other Lottery income until the end of the current licence period in 2009.
	The shares passing to the existing good causes will be subject to review at this time, as would have been the case had a decision been taken not to bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Partnership Agreements

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to conclude a partnership agreement with the trade unions representing the staff in her Department.

Kim Howells: The partnership agreement between the Department for Culture Media and Sport and the DCMS Trade Unions (comprising members of the Public and Commercial Services Union, First Division Association and Institute of Professionals, Managers and Specialists) was agreed in March 2001.

Pay Audits

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on completing a pay audit in her Department and its non-departmental public bodies to measure any disadvantage in terms of remuneration for (a) women, (b) ethnic minorities and (c) people with disabilities; and if she will publish the results of such an audit.

Kim Howells: DCMS completed its pay audit in July 2002. This found that there was currently no significant difference between average salaries of males and females. But the review recommended action to shorten paybands and conduct a further study of data by ethnicity, disability and working pattern.
	The Royal Parks Agency has completed an initial review, and plans to discuss the outcome with its Trade Union Side, in meetings on pay in the near future. No particular pay issues have been identified for the groups mentioned.
	Although NDPBs were not formally covered by the Government's commitment to carry out equal pay reviews, the Departments NDPBs have either completed their own reviews or are in the process of finalising them and drawing up action plans. Information on these reviews is not held centrally.

Sports Funding

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding the Government has given to sport in each of the last five years, excluding lottery money.

Richard Caborn: The funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport directly to sport and the Capital Modernisation Funding on Space for Sports and Arts is shown in the following table.
	
		£000
		
			 Year (12)1998–99 (12)1999–2000 (12)2000–01 (12)2001–02 (13)2002–03 
		
		
			 Sport 49,360 51,593 52,571 63,898 112,100 
			 Space for Sports and Arts   13 579 50,460 
		
	
	(12) Outturn
	(13) Plans
	In addition to this the Department for Education and Skills has been investing the following resources into specialist sports colleges:
	
		£000
		
			 Year (14)1998–99 (14)1999–2000 (14)2000–01 (14)2001–02 (15)2002–03 
		
		
			 Specialist Sports Colleges 3,684 4,822 9,527 14,641 23,500 
		
	
	(14) Outturn
	(15) Plans
	Sport also receives significant funding from Central Government mainly through local government block grant, as noted in 'Game Plan: a strategy for delivering the Government's sport and physical activity objectives', a joint Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Strategy Unit Report published in December 2002, page 33. This spending is not centrally recorded on a consistent basis, but 'Game Plan' suggested that in 1999–2000 £1,015 million was spent on sport and physical activity by local government as part of their block grant.

Subtitling

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what evaluation she has made of the practicability of establishing a regulatory regime and targets for closed caption television subtitling; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: A regulatory regime and targets for subtitling on analogue television were established in the 1990 Broadcasting Act. Further requirements were introduced in the 1996 Broadcasting Act, including subtitling on digital terrestrial television (DTT) services. The Communications Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, will extend the requirements for DTT services to digital cable and digital satellite services for the first time.

Television Licences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many times, and at what frequency, it is the policy of TV Licensing to send letters to a property for which no TV licence is recorded where such letters go unanswered;
	(2)  what the average time is that elapses between the identification by TV Licensing of a property for which no TV licence is recorded and a visit to that property by TV Licensing.

Kim Howells: TV Licensing carries out the administration of the television licensing system as agent for the BBC, which has statutory responsibility for administering the licensing requirements. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is not involved in policy decisions relating to the day-to-day management of the system, nor does it hold information of the kind requested. I have therefore asked the BBC's Head of Revenue Management to consider the questions raised by the hon. Member and to write to him direct, placing a copy of their letter in the Library of the House.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Mine Water Discharges

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken since May 2001 to prevent the discharges of mine water from abandoned mines.

Brian Wilson: Following its establishment in 1994, the Coal Authority, enabled by grant in-aid funding from DTI, has pursued a programme to treat and prevent water discharges from abandoned coal mines. 20 schemes are now in operation, of which four are preventive schemes.

Mine Water Discharges

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations she has received concerning the prevention of discharges of mine water from abandoned mines in England and Wales.

Brian Wilson: I have received no recent representations on this subject.

English Garages

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many rural filling stations and garages there were in England in 1992; how many there are now; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Historical and current data on rural filling stations numbers is not collected.
	However, as part of my Downstream Oil Industry Forum initiative I have set up a rural task force, which is currently developing a working definition of a rural filling station in order that numbers can be determined, and appropriate measures agreed.

Fossil Fuels

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate the Government have made of the global economically recoverable reserves of fossil fuels.

Brian Wilson: Estimates of economically recoverable reserves of fossil fuels are inevitably uncertain since they depend on energy prices, technical and economic progress and the extent of yet-to-find reserves. With that caveat, the International Energy Agency (IEA) published reserves estimates in their World Energy Outlook 2002 publication. The IEA estimated that proven global reserves (discovered and expected to economically producible) of conventional crude oil and natural gas liquids are 959 billion barrels. In addition, the IEA estimated undiscovered resources (thought to exist and expected to become economically recoverable) of conventional crude oil and natural gas liquids to be 939 billion barrels and recoverable non-conventional reserves, such as oil shales, to be 580 billion barrels. Based on US Geological Survey data, the World Energy Outlook notes that remaining gas resources, including proven reserves, reserve growth (defined as the increase in known volumes that commonly occur as gas fields are developed and produced) and undiscovered resources, were estimated to be 386 trillion cubic metres. The IEA also estimate economically recoverable coal reserves to be close to one trillion tonnes.

Gas Order

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the letter of 1 April 1999 between Ofgem and Transco concerning the Gas Order.

Brian Wilson: I am advised by Ofgem that the letter in question is already available to view on Ofgem's public register.

Gas Order

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Ofgem employees are authorised to sign documents altering the terms of the Gas Order.

Brian Wilson: The authority may delegate authority to any Ofgem employee to sign documents.

Miners' Pension Funds

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with the trustees of the miners' pension funds.

Brian Wilson: I have had no recent discussions with the trustees of the miners pension funds.

Sustainable Development

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what remit relating to sustainable development is required by her Department's (a) executive agencies, (b) advisory non-departmental bodies, (c) executive non-departmental bodies, (d) tribunals, (e) public corporations and (f) other bodies.

Brian Wilson: The Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate and the targets and reporting requirements it contains applies to DTI's Executive Agencies; Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) and other associate bodies are outside its scope.
	The Cabinet Office guide, "NDPBs: A Guide for Departments", makes clear that associate bodies should consider their role in helping the UK move towards sustainable development. The Government are committed to keeping under review progress in adding sustainable development as an objective for existing associate bodies and to assess whether sustainable development should be included in the remit of all new public bodies.

Accreditation Service

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the complaint by the Chinese authorities in 2002 about the conduct of UK Accreditation Service accredited certification bodies operating in that country; and what steps UKAS took to allay those concerns.

Nigel Griffiths: Since no formal complaint has been received by the Government this is a matter for UKAS. However, I understand that in April 2002, the Chinese authorities expressed their concerns through the International Accreditation Forum about the activities of a number of overseas certification bodies operating in China. Five of the 11 bodies investigated by the Chinese authorities were accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). UKAS took immediate and robust action by imposing a moratorium on new accreditations for certification carried out outside of the United Kingdom whilst it carried out its own investigation into the activities of the named UKAS-accredited certification bodies. The Government support this approach.
	The moratorium was subsequently lifted on 31 July 2002. UKAS found that those UKAS-accredited bodies that were the subject of the Chinese concerns had been operating through agents and that there were some weaknesses, at the UK headquarter offices, in the control of these agents which needed to be addressed. There were though no indications that such deficiencies in procedures applied in the case of other accredited certification bodies. However, in recognition that the certification sector had become more international in nature, UKAS implemented further changes in the way that it assesses certification bodies. These changes require certification bodies to: submit full details of all agency/sub-contracting, etc. arrangements that they have in place; declare all the locations where critical activities are carried out; and list all the countries where UKAS-accredited certificates have been issued. UKAS itself has also made some changes to its internal procedures as a result of its investigation into the Chinese concerns.
	We consider that UKAS acted positively and expeditiously in this case and that the changes implemented by UKAS were necessary and sufficient to safeguard the credibility of the accreditation process.

Accreditation Service

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the results of the Accreditation Awareness Campaign run by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service from November 2000 to December 2002.

Nigel Griffiths: The United Kingdom Accreditation Service's (UKAS) Accreditation Awareness Campaign was launched by my noble friend, Lord Sainsbury, on 27 November 2000. Initially expected to last for 18 months, the campaign continues because of the recognition that awareness in this area can only be achieved via the regular flow of information to the market. The Government fully support the campaign and contribute towards some of its costs.
	The campaign is in two parts, one aimed at raising awareness within government and the other aimed at business (particularly small businesses) so that, within government, potential customers (scheme/standard developers, etc.) of UKAS can make informed choices about their accreditation needs, and businesses can recognise the value of accreditation to the competitiveness of their companies and to risk management.
	The campaign has been largely successful to date although UKAS has had more success delivering its message to various parts of government than it has to business. Nevertheless, UKAS is determined to make further progress raising the awareness of their services with business and is developing its current strategy to make the business element of the campaign more successful.

Utilities

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with (a) gas companies, (b) electricity companies and (c) water companies regarding their expansion in the south-east.

Brian Wilson: None recently. However, the main responsibility for these issues is with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the appropriate local authorities. Interested companies would meet with Ministers and officials as necessary. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry may become involved in the issues for which she has regulatory responsibility.

Waste Electrical andElectronic Equipment Directive

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on whether printer ink and toner cartridges should be classed as consumables for the purposes of the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Brian Wilson: The European Commission has already made clear that these goods are considered consumables for the purposes of this Directive.

Waste Electrical andElectronic Equipment Directive

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what representations she has received in respect of the implementation of the European Union waste electrical and electronic equipment directive in respect of the re-use of printer ink and toner cartridges; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many people she estimates are employed by companies engaged in the re-use of printer ink and toner cartridges;
	(3)  what the estimated annual turnover is for companies engaged in the re-use of printer ink and toner cartridges;
	(4)  what action she has taken to encourage the manufacture of re-usable printer ink and toner cartridges; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  what estimate she has made of the amount of waste going to landfill sites each year as a result of the implementation of the European Union Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive preventing the re-use of printer ink and toner cartridges; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Several inkjet cartridge refill businesses have written to express their concern that their operations may be put at risk if the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive scope does not include these goods. I am making clear in my replies that we take these concerns seriously and that I am keen for this sector to continue to flourish. Industry estimates suggest there are over 100 companies that remanufacture ink and toner cartridges for reuse, employing over 2,000 people with another 20 plus companies involved in the supply chain. Their combined turnover is said to be in the order of £150 million per annum.
	The WEEE Directive does not prevent the reuse or refilling of printer cartridges. The concerns raised by the refill sector relate to existing technology, presently applied to a very small proportion of goods sold. Business estimates that 30 to 40 per cent. of toner and inkjet cartridges are presently reused or recycled equating to 6 to 8,000 tonnes per annum. The WEEE Directive will not affect this.
	The European Commission has made clear that printer cartridges do not fall within the scope of the WEEE Directive, but that forthcoming eco-design based EU legislation may pick this issue up. The UK agrees with this assessment. In the mean time, if the spread of new technology preventing reuse starts to significantly impinge on the independent refill market, I will wish to consider what additional action might be necessary.

Welsh Garages

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many rural filling stations and garages there were in Wales in 1991; how many there are now; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: Historical and current data on rural filing stations numbers is not collected.
	However, as part of my Downstream Oil Industry Forum initiative I have set up a Rural Task Force, which is currently developing a working definition of a rural filing station in order that numbers can be determined, and appropriate measures agreed.

DEFENCE

Depleted Uranium

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the status of the Ministry of Defence's Depleted Uranium Oversight Board; what its membership is; who they are representing; and if he will place in the Library recent deliberations and statements made by the Board.

Lewis Moonie: I am placing a copy of the Depleted Uranium Oversight Board (DUOB) Terms of Reference and the current membership list in the Library of the House. Additionally, all deliberations and decisions made by the board are contained in the minutes of DUOB meetings which are publicly available on the internet at www.duob.org.uk.

Depleted Uranium

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the appointment of Dr. Chris Bushy to the Depleted Uranium Oversight Board, and explain the representative purpose of this appointment.

Lewis Moonie: Dr. Chris Busby was nominated for membership of the Depleted Uranium Oversight Board (DUOB) by a veterans' organisation during the open consultation held by the Ministry of Defence on the introduction of a voluntary screening programme for depleted uranium. MOD subsequently invited Dr. Busby to become a member of the DUOB in September 2001.

Gulf War (Vaccines)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the armed forces serving in the Gulf will be given similarly-based vaccines to those used in the first Gulf War; and if he will cease the use of depleted uranium shells.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 14 April 2003
	United Kingdom Service personnel are offered a range of immunisations to protect against disease. These include standard Service immunisations, immunisations for deployment to areas with specific health hazards, immunisations to help protect personnel against the effects of biological weapons, and immunisations for personnel in specific occupational or 'at risk' groups. The table shows the complete list of vaccines offered for Operation GRANBY (the 1990–1991 Gulf Conflict) and today. Other immunisations may have been and continue to be offered on the basis of clinical need.
	we have no plans to cease their use.
	
		
			 Immunisation Position during operation GRANBY Current Position 
		
		
			 Poliomyelitis Offered to all non-immune personnel. Administered by mouth. Offered to all non-immune personnel. Administered by mouth. 
			 Tuberculosis Recruits without a BCG immunisation scar and who were not shown to be immune were offered BCG immunisation. Recruits without a BCG immunisation scare and who are not shown to be immune were offered BCG immunisation. 
			 Meningococal meningitis In August 1990, immunisation against meningococcal meningitis strains A and C was recommended for all personnel serving in the Gulf. By 15 September 1990, the immunisation was no longer recommended except for medical personnel and personnel who may be at risk by way of frequent contact with host nation personnel. Immunisation against meningococal meningitis strains A and C involved one vaccination which was effective against both strains. Immunisation against meningogoccal meningitis offered to those deploying to a high risk area, where the length of the deployment, or the activities to be undertaken place them at risk. 
			 Typhoid Offered to all personnel. Administered with tetanus vaccine as one combined immunisation Typhoid vaccine offered to all personnel. May be combined with Hepatitis A as a single combined vaccine if both required. No combined typhoid and tetanus preparation now available. 
			 Tetanus Offered to all personnel, administered with typhoid vaccine as one combined immunisation Offered to all personnel. May be administered with diphtheria vaccine as one combined immunisation if both are required. 
			 Diphtheria Offered to all non-immune personnel Offered to all non-immune personnel. May be administered with tetanus vaccine as one combined immunisation if both required. 
			 Hepatitis A Unavailable. Certain occupational groups, such as those handling food and water supplies, may have been offered a Gamma Globulin immunisation. MOD is aware of one individual who was part of a medical unit that served in Operation GRANBY who is recorded as having received Gamma Globulin Hepatitis A vaccine now available and is offered to all regular personnel and mobilised reservists. It may be given with typhoid as a single combined vaccine if both required. 
			 Yellow Fever Offered routinely to Servicemen Servicewomen were only to be immunised if they were travelling to a region where yellow fever was endemic. However, MOD is aware of records for Servicewomen who served with a unit that deployed to the Gulf as routinely receiving yellow fever immunisation All regular personnel immunised on joining the Armed Forces with re-immunisations every 10 years. Reserve personnel are offered immunisation if mobilised. 
			 Cholera Offered to all personnel deploying Not offered—no longer recommended by World Health Organisation. 
			 Plague Offered to all personnel deploying Not offered. 
			 Anthrax Offered to all personnel deploying Being rolled out as a routine immunisation for all UK personnel. 
			 Pertussis Offered as adjuvant for anthrax vaccine to all personnel deploying Not offered 
			 Rabies Not specifically offered to personnel deploying on Op GRANBY Offered to personnel who work with animals, including dog handlers and veterinarians 
			 Hepatitis B Offered to medical personnel Offered to medical personnel and those at occupational risk of exposure to blood borne viruses. 
			 Rubella Not specifically offered to personnel deploying Op GRANBY Offered to non-immune females to enhance protection and to non-immune health care workers to prevent transmission to patients. 
			 Smallpox Routine vaccination of UK Service personnel against smallpox ceased in the early 1980s. Therefore some Service personnel who participated in Operation GRANBY could have been vaccinated against smallpox earlier in their careers. MOD is aware of one member of the Armed Forces who served in the 1990–1991 Gulf Conflict who was vaccinated against smallpox in January 1991 by private arrangement. Being rolled out to a cohort including Nuclear, Chemical and Biological specialists and certain medical personnel, including some who have deployed to the Gulf region.

Iraq

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent military operations conducted in Iraq have accelerated the attrition of equipment used for this purpose; and whether the cost of such accelerated attrition is being taken fully into account in calculating and recovering the additional costs of the operations.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is gathering evidence and assessing the extent to which operations in Iraq have accelerated the attrition of equipment used during the campaign. The need to repair or replace such equipment will be considered on a case by case basis. Where net additional costs are incurred, these would generally be attributable to the costs of operations in Iraq and would be recoverable via the normal procedures.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what the budget is for expenditure to rebuild the infrastructure in Afghanistan; and what the corresponding figure was in 2002.

Hilary Benn: The Afghan Transitional Authority has produced a National Development Budget providing a comprehensive plan for reconstruction across the country. The Physical Infrastructure budget for 2003 (Afghan year 1382) is US$622.9 million.
	This is the first year that a comprehensive central budget has been produced, making a comparison with 2002 difficult. However a figure of US$128 million for 2002 has been calculated as an estimate.

Afghanistan

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what his Department's total budget for Afghanistan has been in each of the last three financial years; what the projected budget is for the year ahead; and how funds have been allocated.

Hilary Benn: DFID's bilateral support to Afghanistan for refugees, humanitarian and reconstruction support over the last three financial years has been as follows:
	
		
			 Financial Year £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 10  
			 2001–02 46  
			 2002–03 75 
		
	
	At the Ministerial Conference in Tokyo (January 2002) DFID pledged £200 million over five years for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan. For this financial year (2003–04) DFID has a projected programme of £40 million; this may rise to £50 million depending on the success of the Afghan Government's reform of the Public Administration. DFID's priority areas for support include livelihoods and reform of public administration, the economy and the security sector. These sectors have been identified through liaison with the Afghan Government to avoid overlap with other donors and ensure that DFID works in the areas we feel we can provide added value.
	In addition to bilateral contributions DFID provides an estimated £40 million a year to Afghanistan through our multilateral contributions.

Afghanistan

Mr. Ainsworth: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what role his Department is playing in the reduction of opium poppy output in Afghanistan.

Hilary Benn: DFID is working with other Whitehall Departments, the Afghan Transitional Authority and the international community to develop and implement a strategy for the sustainable elimination of opium production in Afghanistan.
	DFID's main contribution is in supporting alternative livelihoods. The objective is to create opportunities for those currently involved in poppy cultivation to obtain sustainable livelihoods, based on legal activities either in agriculture, small business or employment. DFID's contribution includes £1 million over 2 years to the Aga Khan Foundation in Badahkshan, where they are working to help farmers identify on-farm alternatives to opium before they become drawn in to poppy cultivation. We will also be providing £3.75 million over 4 years to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation for the development of sustainable agricultural livelihoods in eastern Hazarajat.
	We are also providing £2.2 million in technical assistance and training to the Ministry of Rural Reconstruction and Development and other Ministries involved in rural livelihoods to strengthen their capacity to plan, co-ordinate and supervise the development of sustainable livelihoods for all Afghans, including those involved in poppy cultivation.

AIDS (Africa)

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what part the UK is playing in tackling the AIDS epidemic in Africa.

Hilary Benn: The UK is playing a significant part in tackling the AIDS epidemic in Africa, and—according to UNAIDS—is currently the second largest bilateral donor for HIV/AIDS in the world. We are supporting countries in strengthening their responses to HIV/AIDS, making sure that HIV/AIDS is not treated as just a health issue, but is addressed by all sectors within Government, such as education, transport, and agriculture, and includes partnerships with the private sector and non-governmental organisations. DFID recognises HIV/AIDS to be one of the most important development challenges facing Africa. As our overall programme in the region increases from £640 million to £1 billion by 2006, HIV/AIDS will remain one of our highest priorities.
	In recognition of the significance of HIV/AIDS and the priority given to combating the disease, DFID announced on 30 May its decision to increase its contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria with an additional US$ 40 million per year for 2006–2008, bringing DFID's total commitment to the Fund to US$ 280 million.
	DFID is also working to increase access to medicines, including anti-retrovirals, and to strengthen health systems necessary to deliver vital drugs and health care for those living with HIV/AIDS. We also support research into the development of AIDS vaccines, and microbicides for HIV prevention.

Arms Export Controls

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development when the Secretary of State for International Development intends to publish the report on the conference on strengthening export controls on small arms and light weapons held at Lancaster House on 14 to 15 January 2003.

Hilary Benn: The report on the conference on strengthening export controls on small arms and light weapons, held at Lancaster House on 14 to 15 January 2003, will be published by 30 June 2003. The report is a joint publication by the Department for International Development, the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence. The main element of the report is the Chairman's Summary, which outlines the areas of consensus established at the conference, and areas that require further work. The UK Government will circulate copies of the report to those who attended the Conference, and will make copies available at the UN Biennial Meeting on Small Arms to be held on 7 to 11 July 2003 in New York. The Report will also be available on departmental websites in due course.
	The UK Government are committed to working to build on the useful discussions that took place at the Conference, by working in partnership with others to strengthen consensus on the need for regulation of small arms transfers. The Biennial Meeting in New York will be a useful opportunity to take this work forward with partners within the framework of the UN.

Bangladesh

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what discussions the Department has had with the Bangladeshi Government concerning the incidence of tuberculosis in Bangladesh.

Hilary Benn: The Government of Bangladesh recognises the high burden of TB and the inadequacy of existing mechanisms for addressing the disease. DFID is supporting the Government, through the Country Coordinating Mechanism of the Global fund for AIDS/TB and Malaria, to secure significant additional resources for the national fight against TB. DFID works in Health sector in Bangladesh as part of a consortium of donor countries supporting the Sector Wide Approach in Health. We are currently discussing with the Government a new phase of that programme focused on meeting the priority health needs of poor people , including TB.

Bangladesh

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what measures are being taken as part of health programmes run by the Department in Bangladesh to address the rates of tuberculosis.

Hilary Benn: DFID has provided £55 million to the Government of Bangladesh over the past five years in support of a Sector Wide Approach in the Health Sector, with the aim of strengthening service delivery for the whole range of public health problems. The Government of Bangladesh and Development Partners recognise that TB remains an important problem that has not yet been adequately addressed. DFID is supporting the Government's attempts to mobilise significant additional investment in TB, through the Global Fund for AIDS/TB and Malaria and will also seek to ensure that TB is prioritised in the next sector programme, which is currently being planned.
	DFID is a major financier of the Global fund for AIDS/TB and Malaria, with an initial commitment of $200 million, over five years and a recently announced additional $80 million over a further two year period.

Burma

Edward Leigh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of recent British policy on aid for Burma.

Hilary Benn: Reducing poverty in Burma will require major political, economic and social reform, the prospects for which are currently extremely limited. However, we should not abandon the poor people of Burma. DFID, along with other international agencies, can and does play an important role in addressing the humanitarian needs of poor people of Burma through programmes on HIV/AIDS, health, and the protection of human rights.
	The UK's wider policy on Burma is designed to effectively keep pressure on the Burmese regime and those who support and benefit from its misrule. The policy will be maintained until Burma is irreversibly committed to substantive, lasting political change.

Chad and Cameroon Pipeline

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development whether the transitional procedures in relation to the Chad and Cameroon Pipeline Project have been completed.

Hilary Benn: In their December report, the International Advisory Group (IAG) recommended that interim arrangements be made for management of oil revenues allocated to the oil-producing region of Chad, pending completion of the Regional Development Plan. We await forthcoming reports from the IAG and the External Compliance Monitoring Group to judge progress on this issue. We are not aware of other transitional procedures on the Chad/Cameroon Petroleum Development and Pipeline project.

Coffee

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what measures her Department has established to manage better the international supply of coffee.

Hilary Benn: We share the concern for the way that coffee growers and coffee growing countries have been hit by low prices due largely to global over supply and structural imbalances in the industry.
	It is however important to recognise that coffee is traded on a free market and it is unlikely that attempts to intervene in the international coffee market to manage supply will be successful. The UK does however, support action to improve the sustainability of the coffee supply chain and to improve co-operation between all market participants. The UK is a member, through the EU, of the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), a United Nations body established to, among other things, "achieve a reasonable balance between world supply and demand on a basis which will assure adequate supplies of coffee at fair prices to consumers and markets for coffee at remunerative prices to producers".
	UK Government officials regularly attend meetings of the ICO. They also meet with representatives of the coffee trade, other interested organisations and other Government Departments with an interest in coffee matters to pursue other approaches to reducing the vulnerability of poor people and poor countries dependent upon coffee.

Colombia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what restrictions are placed on aid payments to Colombia; and if she will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: We are reducing bilateral assistance to Colombia in line with our focus on the poorest countries in the region. By the end of this year, it will be limited to a £140,000 fund to support civil society. We also contribute the equivalent of about £2 million a year to EC programmes. In recognition of the circumstances in Colombia, these focus on supporting the peace process and humanitarian aid.

Deforestation

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what net percentage of forest cover worldwide has been lost in each of the last 10 years; and what total acreage this represents.

Hilary Benn: According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, during the period 1990–2000, which are the latest data available, the net percentage of forest cover lost worldwide was 2.4 per cent. This represents an annual average loss of 0.22 per cent. or approximately 23.2 million acres.

Europe

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what the conclusions were of the European Commission's review of progress towards the commitment that by 2006 an EU average of gross national income provided as overseas development assistance will reach 0.3 per cent.; what decisions were reached when this review was discussed at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on 20th May; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: In its summary report on follow-up to the International Conference on Financing for Development the European Commission noted that in 2002, eight member states had met the target of 0.33 per cent. of GNI as oda. In 2003, 10 member states will reach this objective. Progress already made corresponds to around one third of the amount of additional oda per year that should be made available by the EU from 2006 onwards.
	The conclusion of the discussion on this review at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in May 2003 invited the Commission to continue to monitor on a regular basis, and to report annually on, the follow-up to the Monterrey commitments.

G8 Summit

John Battle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development, what agreement was made at the G8 summit on the transparency of payments to governments by oil and mining companies.

Hilary Benn: At Evian, the G8 countries emphasised their determination to fight corruption which is one of the key obstacles to economic and social development. They agreed an action plan that includes piloting, on a voluntary basis, an intensified approach to transparency in countries where revenues from extractive industries (oil, gas and mining) are important.
	The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) will help develop measures to implement this Action Plan.
	At the EITI multi-stakeholder conference being held in London on 17 June, we will be asking those present (governments, oil, gas and mining companies, industry bodies, international institutions, investors and NGOs) to make public statements of support for a Statement of Principles and Actions and to set out how they propose to take the initiative forward.

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what reports the Department has received from (a) UNMAS and (b) other sources on the number of (i) air-launched and ground-launched cluster munitions and (ii) unexploded bomblets at the sites where cluster munitions were used during the recent conflict in Iraq.

Hilary Benn: DFID is not aware of any comprehensive assessment on the number of air-launched and ground-launched cluster munitions used during the recent conflict, nor on the number of unexploded bomblets remaining. However the Ministry of Defence report that during the conflict UK forces dropped 66 air-delivered cluster bombs and fired some 2,000 artillery-delivered bomblet shells.
	We recognise that unexploded ordnance (UXO) is a matter of grave humanitarian concern. The UK is fully committed to facilitating the clearance of UXO as part of the post-conflict reconstruction of Iraq. Demining organisations funded by DFID (UN Mine Action Service £4 million and Mines Advisory Group £81,000) are working alongside local organisations and the Coalition military to plot the locations of all UXO and to carry out disposals.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development how much of the £60 million for Iraq announced in this year's budget has been allocated; and to which agencies.

Hilary Benn: DFID has so far committed £115 million towards humanitarian assistance in the current crisis. This finance is channelled though the organisations best placed to deliver assistance on the ground: UN agencies, the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and NGOs. We have set aside a further £95 million for additional needs as they emerge.
	In addition, HM Treasury have earmarked an extra £60 million from the Central Reserve to meet humanitarian and reconstruction needs in Iraq. £5 million of this has been provided to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to fund UK secondees to the Coalition Provisional Authority. The remaining £55 million remains available to DFID to call upon when required.

Medical Assistance

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what use has been made of the tax measures introduced in the 2002 Budget to encourage private sector research and development of new treatments for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria in developing countries and responsible donations of medical supplies and equipment to developing countries.

Hilary Benn: The UK Government are committed to significantly improving access to medicines in developing countries. We need to tackle all the key factors affecting access if we are to make lasting improvements.
	The factors recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that can improve poor peoples' access to medicines are: affordable pricing, sustainable financing, reliable health and supply systems, and the rational selection and use of existing drugs.
	Clare Short chaired a High Level Working Group on Increasing Access to Essential Medicines in the Developing World, which examined these factors in detail and made a series of recommendations for action in its report of November 2002. Officials across Whitehall are taking forward these recommendations with stakeholders.
	One recommendation was to encourage companies to increase Research and Development into medicines and vaccines for diseases prevalent in developing countries, namely TB, malaria and relevant strains of HIV/AIDS, taking forward implementation of the R&D tax credits announced in the budget. The special tax relief for companies developing drugs and vaccines for TB, malaria and HIV/AIDS applies to expenditure incurred on or after 22 April 2003. As it is claimed by companies when they complete their tax returns, which they can submit up to 12 months after the end of the accounting period in question, the Inland Revenue do not yet have any information on claims.
	Section 55 of the Finance Act 2002, which provides relief from any possible tax penalty on donations of drugs and equipment abroad, is a deregulatory measure which requires no claim by the donor. Accordingly, the Inland Revenue keeps no record of the amounts involved.

Mines

Norman Lamb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development which UK-based non-governmental landmine clearance organisations are being supported by the Department.

Hilary Benn: DFID is currently supporting the Halo Trust and the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) for landmine clearance.

Mines

Norman Lamb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development in which countries, and to what purposes, the UN's Mine Action Service are putting their most recent allocation of funds from the Department.

Hilary Benn: The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has allocated funds provided by DFID during the past and current financial year to country programmes, as follows:
	
		
			 Country Amount (£) Purpose 
		
		
			 Sudan 161,573 Demining Nuba mountains 
			 Sudan 65,333 Mine action co-ordination 
			 Sudan 2,333,333 Mine action centres 
			 Kosovo 171,760 Demining teams 
			 Eritrea 45,000 Mine survey 
			 Afghanistan 4,800,000 Demining 
			 Iraq 4,000,000 Demining 
			 Eritrea/Ethiopia 35,000 Mine action co-ordination 
			 DR Congo 65,333 Mine action co-ordination 
			 S. Lebanon 133,333 Mine action centre

Montserrat

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will make a statement on the total amount of aid sent to Montserrat since 1997 (a) from the EU and (b) directly from the UK.

Hilary Benn: DFID disbursements for each UK Financial Year since 1996–97 have been as follows:
	
		
			 Year Amount (£ million) 
		
		
			 1996–97 14.441 
			 1997–98 37.866 
			 1998–99 31.096 
			 1999–2000 22.640 
			 2000–01 20.811 
			 2001–02 24.417 
			 2002–03 (16)23.797 
			 Total: 175.068 
		
	
	(16) Provisional: subject to adjustment
	Over the same period, the European Commission has allocated £19 million (about £12.5 million) in development assistance to Montserrat for use up to 2007, of which the UK share is about £1.5 million.

Sierra Leone

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assistance the Department has given to Sierra Leone, since UK forces entered the country, in respect of victims of the Revolutionary United Front.

Hilary Benn: The entire country could be said to be a victim of the Revolutionary United Front as well as other fighting factions over a period of 10 or so years. On that basis, all assistance from the Department has been designed to assist victims of the conflict. Since the middle of 2000, this has amounted to some £100 million.

Sierra Leone

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will hold discussions with the Government of Sierra Leone in order to set a target date for all amputees to be fitted with serviceable artificial limbs.

Hilary Benn: The Department's strategy for engagement in the years ahead is set out in a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed with the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) last November. The benchmarks for progress by GQSL do not include targets relating to treatments for the disabled.
	All amputees in camps have either been fitted with artificial limbs or offered them. Many prefer not to use them. Some additional people are coming in from the remoter communities of districts to register as amputees. It is expected that Hope International and Handicap International will continue to provide assistance.

Sierra Leone

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the numbers of amputees (a) in the amputees' central camp and (b) elsewhere in Sierra Leone.

Hilary Benn: It is very difficult to give accurate figures for amputee numbers countrywide. Some organisations such as Handicap International have been assisting amputees and other war affected people in Sierra Leone for several years. They have found that the number of surviving amputees is much smaller than originally thought since many died as a result of their injuries. Also, some were in inaccessible areas and could not be assisted or even counted. Some of those from remote locations are however coming to Freetown for treatment but numbers are uncertain. Very vulnerable people may still be afraid to come forward despite encouragement to do so. In spite of this the estimate of amputee numbers has not changed since the former Secretary of State wrote to the hon. Member on 3 December 2001 at which time it was estimated at around 1,000.
	Two years ago there were 220 registered amputees in the Murray Town camp and an unknown number of war wounded in Grafton Camp on the Western Peninsular. Since then good progress has been made in re-housing many amputees and their families. We understand that so far 239 beneficiaries and their families have been re-settled in greater Freetown and across 17 Chiefdoms, in effect reintegrated into local communities. When the final 70 houses are finished this year and the amputees relocated, the Murray Town camp will be closed.

Sierra Leone

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what the numbers of amputees are in Sierra Leone who (a) are awaiting and (b) have received artificial limbs since United Kingdom forces entered the country.

Hilary Benn: This information is not available. All those in camps have been fitted with artificial limbs or have been offered them. Hope International, Handicap International and Mercy Ships have found that their services in this area were much under utilised if they concentrated on amputees alone. They, therefore, expanded their programmes to also cover war-affected disabled and polio victims.

Sierra Leone

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will list the sources from which artificial limbs have been made available to the amputees in Sierra Leone.

Hilary Benn: These are made locally through Hope International workshops at Murray Town and Wellington in Freetown and at Bo. Local technicians have been trained to manufacture the prostheses. Handicap International and Mercy Ships also provide help with this service. Some amputees have also gone abroad to have artificial limbs fitted.

Sierra Leone

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what plans the Department has to facilitate the (a) rehabilitation and (b) resettlement of the amputees in Sierra Leone.

Hilary Benn: This work is the responsibility of the Government of Sierra Leone's Reintegration Co-ordination Committee that meets monthly. Among its tasks is monitoring all aspects of assistance for registered amputees. It comprises the National Commission for Social Action, the National Recovery Committee, the local representative of the Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross and three international NGOs, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Cause Canada and Handicap International. DFID is not and has no plans to be represented on this body.
	The majority of amputees who have been in camps in Freetown have already been relocated to the areas of their choice through a programme administered by the NRC. It was funded mainly by a donation of $1 million from the United States and Norwegian governments.
	Once relocated the amputees are provided with food by the World Food Programme. They are assisted further by Cause Canada who provides skills training, micro credit and other services.

Sri Lanka

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development if he will list the meetings his Department has held with representatives of (a) the Sri Lankan Government and (b) the Tamil people to discuss development in each of the past five years.

Hilary Benn: DFID maintains an office within the British high commission in Colombo. In the course of their work to design and implement development programmes, staff in this office meet with representatives of the Sri Lankan Government, political parties, the LTTE, and with ordinary Sri Lankans all around the island as well as other donors, international organisations and NGOs. Currently, meetings focus especially on action to support the peace process and to create the conditions for lasting reconciliation.
	Staff in Colombo are supported through frequent visits by staff from DFID's regional office in Bangkok as well as periodic visits from London based senior staff.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

A-Levels

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many meetings there have been between officials from the DfES, the awarding bodies and the QCA with regard to Clause 95 of the Tomlinson Inquiry into A-level standards.

David Miliband: DfES and QCA officials hold regular meetings. The preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and QCA has been discussed on a number of occasions.

Arson

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much school arson cost in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Department does not collect these figures. However, we take very seriously the threat that arson poses to some schools.
	If a fire should happen in a school, the Department's primary concern is for the safety of pupils, teachers and other users. Regulation 17 of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 requires that every part of a school building, and of the land provided for a school, shall be such that the safe escape of the occupants in case of fire is reasonably assured. Schools are also covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and by subsequent related regulations. These include aspects of fire safety.
	To help schools manage fire safety, The Department published "Managing School Facilities Guide 6, Fire Safety", in 2000. This offers guidance on how to minimise the risks of both accidental and malicious fires occurring, and advises on how to identify hazards and carry out risk assessments. It also gives advice on training and on fire detection and alarm systems.

Children's Diets

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent research he has commissioned into the take-up of free school meals; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: This Department funded a study that examined how the nature of the school, its meal provision and its management and administration, influenced the take up of free meals. The research was commissioned by the Child Poverty Action Group and resulted in the publication of a report entitled 'Improving the Take up of Free School Meals' in May 2001.

Children's Diets

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage headteachers and governors to monitor the contribution of vending machines and school tuck shops to children's diets; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Twigg: The Department supports the healthy eating strand of the National Healthy Schools Standard which states that coherent and consistent messages about healthy eating, food hygiene and safety and practical food preparation are promoted to pupils. The 'Food in Schools' programme, a joint Department for Education and Skills and Department of Health initiative, aims to develop sustainable programmes to encourage healthy eating. The initiative will take the form of a range of projects, two of which will aim to challenge schools and the vending industry to make healthy options available in school vending machines and provide schools with guidance on how to develop healthy tuck shops.

Document Costs

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 22 May 2003, Offical Report, column 1002W, on document costs, what the budget was allocated to each policy team, for expenditure on documents, brochures, leaflets and consultation papers in 2002–03; and what budget he has allocated to individual policy teams for expenditure on documents, brochures, leaflets and consultation papers in 2003–04.

Stephen Twigg: Programme budgets within the Department are not allocated specifically to categories of expenditure such as the production of documents, brochures, leaflets and consultation papers, the information requested is therefore not available in the form requested.

Document Costs

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his written answer of 22 May 2003, Official Report, column 1002W, on document costs, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of public relations and media consultants in the publication of documents, brochures, leaflets and consultation papers in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Stephen Twigg: The Department has not published any documents, brochures, leaflets and consultation papers through public relations or media consultants in the last five years.

Education Funding

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are being taken by his Department to increase budgetary provision for (a) the current academic year, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05.

David Miliband: The overall increase in funding for schools and local education authorities between last year and 2003–04 is some £2.7 billion. Within this total, we have made available extra grant to ensure that the effective increase is no less than 3.2 per cent. per pupil for all authorities. Our plans allow for a further increase of £1.4 billion between this year and 2004–05. Details of the allocations to individual local education authorities will be announced later this year under the normal arrangements.

Education Initiatives

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to incorporate school character assessment into performance-related league tables, as outlined in the recent Excellence and Enjoyment document.

David Miliband: The document 'Excellence and Enjoyment—a Strategy for Primary Schools', launched on 20 May, acknowledged the need to keep the accountability framework, including the performance tables, under review by looking for ways of improving and refining the information provided to parents and others. That included the possibility of offering more information about the rounded achievements of schools, perhaps by reporting a headline judgement from a school's most recent Ofsted report. We will put forward a more detailed proposition after consideration of responses to this proposal.

Foreign Languages

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what percentage of pupils have an entitlement to modern foreign language learning at Key Stage 2; and if he will assess the likely impact that the demotion of foreign language study at Key Stage 4 will have on the wider success of language learning initiatives at key stage two;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the content of the new primary strategy for developing modern foreign languages.

David Miliband: Our National Languages Strategy, "Languages for All: Languages for Life—A Strategy for England", published last December, made clear that by the end of the decade we want every pupil, throughout Key Stage 2, to have the opportunity to study a foreign language and develop their interest in the culture of other nations.
	Our strategy document "14 to 19: Opportunity and Excellence", also confirms our commitment to supporting language learning. It confirms our belief that requiring schools to teach languages to every young person beyond the age of 14 is not the best way to achieve that objective. We expect that the more widespread learning of languages during Key Stage 2 will enhance interest, motivation and proficiency and that this will, in time, increase the numbers wishing to continue language learning after the age of 14.
	Our new strategy for primary schools, "Excellence and Enjoyment", outlines a range of approaches that will support teachers in developing their learning and teaching skills across the primary curriculum. The strategy dovetails with work to support particular subjects such as our National Languages Strategy.

Further Education

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made with discussions with Customs and Excise to reconsider the value added tax rules relating to sixth form colleges; whether such colleges will receive compensation for the value added tax payments they are required to make; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 9 June 2003
	The Department for Education and Skills has regular on-going discussions with Customs and Excise to consider the impact of VAT and there are no plans to change the VAT rules as they apply to sixth form colleges' purchase of general goods and services. Colleges gained a range of important financial advantages from incorporation, including control over their own assets such as land and buildings, and the freedom to employ their own staff and determine their terms and conditions. Costs such as VAT need to be met from college funds and we have announced the largest ever investment in further education over the next three years. Funding will rise by £1.2 billion, an increase of 19 per cent. in real terms, between 2002–03 and 2005–06. We are awaiting advice from Customs and Excise on the levying of VAT on further education capital projects.

Independent Schools

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the draft regulations for registration and monitoring of independent schools;
	(2)  what the cost to individual schools will be if the draft regulations for registration and monitoring of independent schools are implemented;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with (a) individual independent schools, (b) the Headmasters Conference, and (c) other bodies representing the independent schooling sector regarding the draft regulations for registration and monitoring of independent schools;
	(4)  what communication he has had with Ofsted regarding the draft regulations for registration and monitoring of independent schools.

David Miliband: Legislation relating to independent schools has remained largely unchanged since 1944. The Education Act 2002 introduced strengthened regulation and monitoring arrangements to reflect the needs and expectations of parents and pupils in the 21st century.
	Many of the standards set out in the new regulations already apply to independent schools, but we have strengthened our powers in some areas to ensure that independent schools educate children in a safe and secure environment and offer a curriculum that enables pupils to fulfil their potential.
	Schools will have to meet inspection charges and compliance costs. Most independent schools will not incur significant compliance costs, but we cannot quantify costs that will fall on schools that have to make improvements. Inspection charges are related to the number of pupils at each school, with a cap of £10,000 for larger schools. In determining the level of charges we gave careful consideration to the pressures on schools operating on limited budgets. We propose that charges will not meet the full cost of inspection and will be based on a sliding scale, depending on the number of pupils at the school, with small schools paying least. For example, a school with 100 pupils would pay £4,500 every six years, or £7.50 per pupil a year.
	We issued a consultation document on 27 February 2003 to all independent schools, the independent school associations, including the Headmasters Conference and the Independent Schools Council, the teacher unions and other interested parties. The consultation period ended on 30 May 2003 and departmental officials are in the process of analysing the responses.
	OFSTED has played a major part in the process of drawing up these regulations. They have been consulted regularly and we have taken full account of their advice and recommendations.

Independent Schools

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on the Partnership with Independent Schools scheme in the last year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: In 2002–03, a total £900,000 of departmental funding was spent on the independent/state school partnerships grant scheme. Independent evaluation of the scheme has found that it is achieving its aims and objectives and provides good value for money. As a result, the scheme has been allocated a significant increase of funding over the next three years: £1.25 million in 2003–04, rising to £2 million in 2005–06.

Key Stage One

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will assess the value of standardised testing at Key Stage 1.

David Miliband: The Department is committed to raising standards in schools and believes that national testing of children's progress is necessary in order to achieve higher standards. It has a positive impact on the quality of teaching and learning and provides a comparable picture of a child's progress against local and national standards for schools, parents and the wider community.
	We propose to trial, in 2004, an approach that uses testing to underpin teacher assessment and feed into a single overarching teacher judgment rather than being reported separately.

Looked After Children

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure all state-funded schools give priority to looked after children from care homes in their admissions policies; what the procedures are for monitoring that this happens; and what penalties he has at his discretion to ensure compliance with the guidance.

Stephen Twigg: The School Admissions Code of Practice recommends that admission authorities give looked after children top priority in their over-subscription criteria; and they must have regard to the Code's guidance. The Secretary of State may direct admission authorities to comply with the Code.
	Admission authorities must consult on their proposed admission arrangements. Local schools and other admission authorities may object to the Schools Adjudicator on any aspect of those arrangements, including failure to give top priority to looked after children. If the Adjudicator decides that proposed admission arrangements should be changed, that decision is binding.
	Admission Forums have been set up to consider existing and proposed admission arrangements for schools in their area. They are also responsible for seeking to ensure that looked after children are effectively provided for. Admission authorities must also have regard to any advice given by their local Forum.

Music Standards Fund

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was allocated to each London education authority through the Music Standards Fund in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2002; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Music Standards Fund was established in 1999 and so no allocations were made in 1992 or 1997.
	Music Standards Fund allocations for London local education authorities in the financial year 2002–03 are available on the Standards Fund website at www.dfes.gov.uk/standardsfund and are set out in the table:
	
		
			 LEA number and name Allocation (£) 
		
		
			 201 Corporation of London 1,753 
			 202 Camden 373,500 
			 203 Greenwich 264,228 
			 204 Hackney 360,380 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 157,481 
			 206 Islington 222,002 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 85,513 
			 208 Lambeth 233,044 
			 209 Lewisham 277,833 
			 210 Southwark 361,237 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 404,449 
			 212 Wandsworth 263,101 
			 213 Westminster 363,500 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 217,091 
			 302 Barnet 193,251 
			 303 Bexley 210,000 
			 304 Brent 254,159 
			 305 Bromley 176,838 
			 306 Croydon 267,764 
			 307 Eating 335,508 
			 308 Enfield 289,111 
			 309 Haringey 358,000 
			 310 Harrow 158,000 
			 311 Havering 160,286 
			 312 Hillingdon 203,534 
			 313 Hounslow 360,000 
			 314 Kingston Upon Thames 143,000 
			 315 Merton 168,221 
			 316 Newham 513,737 
			 317 Redbridge 211,511 
			 318 Richmond Upon Thames 159,600 
			 320 Waltham Forest 269,225 
			 319 Sutton 131,322

Nursery Staff

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many nursery staff are estimated to have been employed in each year since 1997; and what plans he has to increase numbers of nursery staff;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the level of pay of nursery staff in each year since 1997; and what plans he has (a) to increase pay levels and (b) for other financial support of nursery staff;
	(3)  what tasks nursery staff are expected to carry out; what plans he has to improve conditions of work; and if he will make a statement on the value of nursery staff to the (a) children and (b) community.

Maria Eagle: We do not collect annual data on the numbers of staff working in nurseries. In 2001, there were 274,528 people working in childcare in England, of whom 94,302 worked in day nurseries. This represents an increase from 226,340 childcare workers in 1998, of whom 43,080 worked in day nurseries.
	A national childcare recruitment campaign has been running since 2000 to encourage people to consider a career in childcare. Local authorities promote childcare locally, and offer taster courses and links to further training.
	Nursery staff are employed by a range of providers, including local authorities, private providers and voluntary organisations. These employers determine levels of pay and other rewards, and the tasks which their staff are expected to carry out.
	According to the Labour Force Survey, the mean pay for all childcare workers in spring 2001 was £5.29 per hour. We do not collect annual data on levels of pay for nursery staff.
	Nursery staff play a key role in giving young children a good start in life, by promoting their physical, intellectual and social development. Childcare and early education services are important community resources, helping parents work, learn and study; and promoting strong families and strong communities. Government funding for Sure Start, early years and childcare is planned to reach £1.5 billion budget by 2005–06.

Office of Fair Access

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has given to universities on measuring potential for the purpose of adhering to the statement of principles issued by the Office of Fair Access.

Margaret Hodge: The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) will not issue a statement of principles. Universities are responsible for their own admissions policies and procedures.
	My right hon. Friend has asked Professor Steven Schwartz, Vice Chancellor of Brunel University, to lead a team to identify good practice in admissions and we expect one of the outcomes of Professor Schwartz's work to be a statement of high level principles about admissions which we would hope all universities would adopt.

Public Service Agreement

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what grades of officials are responsible for the monitoring of progress towards the public service agreement targets of the Department.

Stephen Twigg: Monitoring progress towards the Department's PSA targets is undertaken by a wide variety of staff at all levels of the organisation.

School Catering

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on schools to which chicken adulterated with beef protein has been supplied.

Stephen Twigg: Schools are encouraged to follow the Department's guidance on nutritional standards. However, it is the responsibility of the LEA, or schools with delegated budgets, to decide on the suppliers and quality of the products they use in the preparation of school meals.
	It is extremely regrettable that this has happened.

School Performance Tables

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of the value added methodology used (a) in his Department's evaluation of the performance of specialist schools and (b) in the 2002 secondary school performance tables; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The value added methodology used in the secondary school performance tables in 2002 has been developed over a number of years, and following extensive consultation with schools and other stakeholders. We continue to keep our approach under review.
	Our evaluation of the merits of specialist schools takes account of all the evidence we have seen, including the Department's value added measures and those used by Professor David Jesson (University of York) in his analysis of specialist schools performance.

School Workforce Agreement

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with (a) local education authorities and (b) head teachers concerning the National Agreement on Restructuring the School Workforce;
	(2)  what representations he has received from (a) local education authorities and (b) head teachers concerning the implementing of the National Agreement on Restructuring the School Workforce.

David Miliband: Following the publication of "Time for Standards" in October 2002, I chaired a series of meetings of national partners, including the local authority employers and head teacher associations, which culminated in the National Agreement signed in January 2003. Since then, I have continued regularly to meet the signatories, both bilaterally and in the Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group, to discuss implementation.

Specialist Status Schools

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answers of 19 May 2003, Official Report, column 560W, and 21 May 2003, Official Report, column 831W, on GCSE point scores, if he will make a statement on the academic impact of specialist status on sports colleges.

David Miliband: Using a value added measure based on KS2 point scores and GCSE 5 or more A*-C outcomes in schools and sports colleges in 2002 produced an added value measure of +1 percentage point compared with a -1.5 percentage points compared with all non-selective, non-specialist schools and non-selective sports colleges. 1
	1 Educational outcomes and value added by specialist schools, 2002 Analysis, Professor David Jesson, University of York.

Specialist Status Schools

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer of 19 May 2003, Official Report, column 560W, on GCSE point scores, what the average capped GCSE/GNVQ point score was for pupils in specialist languages colleges in 2002; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: In 2002 the average capped 1 GCSE/GNVQ point score 2 for Language Colleges (operational as at September 2001) was 39.1.
	Language Colleges raise standards of achievement and the quality of teaching and learning in modern foreign languages, using this as a catalyst for whole school improvement.
	1 Average capped GCSE/GNVQ point scores are calculated using the best 8 GCSE/GNVQ results.
	2 GCSE/GNVQ point scores are calculated as follows:
	GCSE grades A* to G count as 8 to 1 points respectively, GCSE Short Courses grades A* to G count as 4 to ½ respectively. The GNVQ grades D, M and P count as 7½, 6 and 5 points respectively at Intermediate level, and 4, 3 and 1½ points respectively at Foundation level. These points need to be multiplied by 2 for GNVQ Part One and by 4 for Full GNVQs.

Supply Teachers (Wandsworth)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many supply teachers are working in schools in the London borough of Wandsworth.

David Miliband: Occasional teacher numbers (teachers on contracts of less than a month who were in service for the whole of the survey date) in the maintained schools sector in Wandsworth local education authority are shown in table 17 of the January 2002 edition of Statistics of Education: School Workforce in England. This table shows data for January 2002 the most recent data currently available at local authority level. A copy of this volume has been placed in the Library. The table is also available on the statistics section of the DfES website at: www.dfes.qov.uk/statistics/DB/VOL/v0380/456-t17.htm.

Synthetic Phonics

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the role of synthetic phonics in the National Literacy Strategy Searchlights reading programme;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to strengthen the role of synthetic phonics within the framework of the National Literacy Strategy;
	(3)  when he plans to publish the report of the recent departmental seminar on phonics, as referred to in the recent Excellence and Enjoyment document;
	(4)  if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Jolly Phonics programme.

Stephen Twigg: The 2002 Ofsted report of the National Literacy Strategy (NLS) says that:
	"there has been a marked shift in teachers' understanding of and attitudes towards the place of phonics and spelling."
	This has contributed to the best primary school results ever. The NLS advocates the 'Searchlights' model of reading, and is based on the view that children should be taught to read using synthetic and analytic phonics as well as other strategies such as knowledge of grammar and context. The 'Searchlights' model emphasises the central importance of early phonics but also accepts that children will attempt to make sense of a wide range of print and texts in the course of mastering the phonic code and need to be helped to do so efficiently. This is particularly true with English where, because of its linguistic heritage, a significant proportion of words are not phonetically regular.
	The teaching of phonics in the NLS is based on international research over the last 30 years and on good practice seen in England and other countries. The NLS view is supported by international research such as The National Reading Panel Report commissioned by the US Federal Government, 'Teaching to read', in 2000.
	The Department for Education and Skills held a seminar on 17 March 2003 to review the latest research and effective practice in the teaching of phonics. An independent report on the seminar is being finalised and will shortly be published. We will then respond to that report and set out our plans for further strengthening the teaching of phonics in primary schools.
	The Jolly Phonics programme has been adopted by a number of schools, and some teachers have found it effective in helping children learn to read. Schools are able to choose from a range of phonics programmes including the NLS programme Progression in Phonics (PiPs). It is up to schools and teachers to decide which programme they consider most effective in meeting the needs of their children.
	I have today placed a copy of the Early Literacy Support programme video in the Library.

Teachers

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what grant is available to headteachers from 1 April 2003 to meet the cost of threshold payments for teachers in school; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Threshold payments will continue to be fully funded.

UKEU Project

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the monitoring arrangements for government expenditure via the UKEU project.

Margaret Hodge: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) have arranged for public investment in UK eUniversities Worldwide (UKeU) to be handled by a Holding Company (the eLearning Holding Company Ltd.), which is owned by the higher education institutions of the UK. HEFCE currently requires that the Holding Company maintains at least a 50 per cent. stake in UKeU so that it may oversee the value for money represented in the services provided, and to oversee quality and standards of a venture which carries a brand backed by UK higher education. The Holding Company appoints three Directors to the Board of UKeU who have rights of veto over decisions of the UKeU Board. The Holding Company has rights to receive any information it requests from UKeU. The Holding Company monitors the venture and reports annually and by exception on the progress of the business to HEFCE as well as to its members, UK higher education institutions. As with all public funds routed through HEFCE, HEFCE are accountable to the Department's accounting officer for their appropriate disbursement. In addition, HEFCE regularly reviews the progress of UKeU, and I meet routinely with both HEFCE and UKeU to keep abreast of developments.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Housing Benefit (Scotland)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Scotland are in receipt of housing benefit, broken down by local authority.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information is in the table.
	
		Housing Benefit recipients in Scotland by local authority—November 2002
		
			 Local Authority Housing Benefit Recipients 
		
		
			 Aberdeen 15,180 
			 Aberdeenshire 9,500 
			 Angus 6,370 
			 Argyll and Bute 6,020 
			 Clackmannanshire 4,600 
			 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 1,340 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 10,330 
			 Dundee 18,840 
			 East Ayrshire 11,890 
			 East Dunbartonshire 3,960 
			 East Lothian 5,930 
			 East Renfrewshire 3,400 
			 Edinburgh 32,110 
			 Falkirk 12,730 
			 Fife 27,330 
			 Glasgow 98,590 
			 Highland 13,330 
			 Inverclyde 9,400 
			 Midlothian 5,150 
			 Moray 4,400 
			 North Ayrshire 12,730 
			 North Lanarkshire 33,480 
			 Orkney 840 
			 Perth and Kinross 7,290 
			 Renfrewshire 16,830 
			 Scottish Borders 6,950 
			 Shetland 910 
			 South Ayrshire 8,590 
			 South Lanarkshire 27,500 
			 Stirling 5,420 
			 West Dunbartonshire 11,870 
			 West Lothian 12,890 
			 Total 446,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data refer to households claiming Housing Benefit which may be a single person, a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.
	2. Local authority figures are rounded to the nearest ten, the total for Scotland is rounded to the nearest thousand. Figures do not sum due to rounding.
	3. The totals include estimates for local authorities that have not responded. These estimates are based on historical and regional data. This type of estimate is standard practice in reporting totals where there have been non-respondents.
	4. Figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
	Source
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly statistical inquiry, November 2002.

Agency Workers

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many agency workers have been employed by the Department in each of the last two years; and at what cost to public funds.

Maria Eagle: The Information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Child Care

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the operation of the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative in (a) the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency, (b) Teesside and (c) the Government Office North East region, including the (i) level of funding and (ii) number of child care places created.

Maria Eagle: The Neighbourhood Nurseries Programme is making good progress.
	Overall, 5,375 places are planned for the North East Region supported by £11,618,599 capital and £27,796,549 revenue funding. Our monitoring returns show that over 500 Neighbourhood Nursery places have so far been provided in the region. In Middlesbrough South, a 50-place Neighbourhood Nursery will be provided in Coulby Newham serving the disadvantaged wards of Henlington, Stainton and Thornton. In East Cleveland, 84 places will be provided in the following wards:
	Skelton—34 places
	Loftus—10 places
	Guisborough—40 places.
	1,528 places are in various stages of development in the Tees Valley.

Child Support Agency

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether there is equality of treatment between men and women with regard to the way tax credits are taken into account when CSA assessments are made.

Malcolm Wicks: Yes.

Child Support Agency

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints about the standard of service offered by the agency were handled by the Child Support Agency over the past three years; and what the average length of time taken to deal with each complaint was.

Malcolm Wicks: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 10 June 2003
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in replying to your recent parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You ask how many complaints about the standard of service offered by the Agency were handled by the Child Support Agency over the past three years; and what was the average length of time taken to deal with each complaint.
	I am unable to tell you how many of the complaints we receive relate to the standard of service offered by us. I do however have some relevant information relating to overall numbers of written complaints to the Agency.
	The average live caseload during the 3-year period was around 1,000,000.1 estimate that we received around 71,000 written complaints and within that total, around 15,000 were directed to me as chief executive. The average length of time taken to deal with this latter group of complaints was around 19 working days. The average number of complaints received as a percentage of the live caseload during the period was around 1.6%.

Child Support Agency

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects assessments made by the CSA under the old system will be assessed according to the new criteria.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of progress in the implementation of the new child support system; when the full transfer of existing child support cases onto the new system will take place; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer my hon. Friends to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (John Thurso) on 22 May 2003, Official Report, column 919W.

Correspondence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff have been employed in the Ministerial Correspondence Unit of the Department in each of the last two years.

Maria Eagle: In the correspondence section, which forms part of the Private Office, 20 staff deal with the registration, tracking and commissioning of replies to letters addressed to Ministers. This figure has not changed since the Department was formed in 2001.
	Throughout the Department a large number of staff are involved in drafting letters for Ministers or replying to letters on Ministers behalf as part of their duties. This includes the 44.5 staff in the Ministerial Correspondence Unit who are involved in the drafting of replies to correspondence across a wide range of issues.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to reply to the letter of 5 February 2003 from the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Banff and Buchan regarding the topic of job seekers allowance and offshore workers.

Malcolm Wicks: A reply was sent on 5 March. I am arranging for a further copy to be sent.

Court Judgment (Kehoe)

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the implications of the judgment in R (on the application of Mary Kehoe) v. the Secretary of State.

Malcolm Wicks: The implications of the judgment on R (on the application of Mary Kehoe) v. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions are under active consideration by the Department. The Department has been granted leave to appeal.

Disability Living Allowance

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [pursuant to his answer of 15 May to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Clark), Official Report, columns 407–08W, on Disability Living Allowance, how many people are eligible for Disability Living Allowance; how much has been spent on Disability Living Allowance in each year since 1996; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: As regards eligibility, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 May, Official Report, Vol 406, Col 49W. At the end of November 2002, the latest date for which such information is available, some 2.44 million people in Great Britain were receiving Disability Living Allowance 1 . The requested information about expenditure is in the table.
	1 Source:Disability Care and Mobility benefits—November 2002 Quarterly Statistical Enquiry.
	
		Annual expenditure on Disability Living Allowance in Great Britain in each year from 1996–1997 to 2002–2003 -- (£ million cash)
		
			 1996–1997outturn 1997–1998 outturn 1998–1999 outturn 1999–2000 outturn 2000–2001 outturn 2001–2002 outturn 2002–2003 estimated outturn 
		
		
			  
			  
			 4,498 4,953 5,316 5,660 6,044 6,580 7,046 
		
	
	Notes:Expenditure for 2002–03 reflects the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of outturn, and not the amounts voted by Parliament.
	Source:Information and Analysis Directorate Benefit Forecasting and Modelling Division Benefit Expenditure tables, in nominal [cash] terms—published on 15 May 2003.

Efficiency Savings

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the target is for efficiency savings in 2003–04 expressed (a) in money terms and (b) as a percentage of the Department's expenditure limit.

Maria Eagle: There was no specific target for efficiency savings set for the Department for 2003–04. However, there were a number of targets set to improve value for money and increase the efficiency of administration. PSA targets for 2003–04 cover both SR2000 and SR2002.
	Following SR2000 a PSA target was set to increase the efficiency of social security administration full details are available in the Department for Work and Pensions Departmental Report 2003.
	As part of SR 2002 a new target was set "to improve delivery of the Departments services by setting published annual targets for each major business, addressing accuracy, unit costs and customer service, becoming progressively more demanding over the three-year period." Details of its application to each of DWP's Businesses are published in their individual Business Plans and are available in the Library. Details of the unit costs targets have still to be finalised and will be published separately.

Freedom of Information Act

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the electronic document and electronic record management systems which have been procured by the public authorities listed in Parts I to V of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for which he is responsible.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the table.
	
		
			 System Use 
		
		
			 Comet (including filenet) A correspondence scanning system 
			 Canon Scanfile A document imaging system used in six locations 
			 Tower Iimaging and Document Management A system used to support processing using the Empower model 
			 Stellent The DWP Intranet Content Management system 
			 Northern Ireland Industrial Injuries Branch Document Image Processing A document Imaging system used for Industrial Injuries claim forms

Tax Credits

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what advice is made available to those persons on income support when claiming (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the administration costs for those applying for (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit.

Maria Eagle: The majority of families on income support (IS) and income based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA(IB)) do not need to claim tax credits now as they will be migrated to Child Tax Credit from April 2004. MIG customers will be migrated by October 2003 to coincide with the introduction of Pension Credit. However a small number of families may be better off claiming tax credits now. Therefore from November 2002, families on benefits, including IS and JSA(IB), have been sent information about the new tax credits, including information to help them to identify if they will be better off claiming tax credits now. These families can receive further information and help with their claims from their local Jobcentre Plus office, where staff are able to take tax credits claims and change of circumstances, deal with general enquiries and provide calculations to help customers to decide whether they want to claim tax credits now.
	Inland Revenue helpline staff are also advising families who are on benefits that Jobcentre Plus can help them in this way. In addition they are advising benefit customers that they will be contacted by the Department for Work and Pensions with more information about the migration to Child Tax Credit nearer the time.
	Inland Revenue is primarily responsible for the administration of tax credits. The estimated cost of Jobcentre Plus helping benefit customers to transact tax credits business, including taking tax credits claims and change of circumstances, and dealing with customer inquiries, is as follows:
	
		
			 Year £ million 
		
		
			 2003–4 5.4 
			 2004–5 7.9 
			 2005–6 1.7 
		
	
	These estimated figures are service delivery costs for Jobcentre Plus. In the light of live running experience, costs and volumes of work will be reviewed during the course of the year.

World Summit on Sustainable Development

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which United Kingdom commitments arising from the World Summit on Sustainable Development (a) have been incorporated into the Department's existing delivery plan for Service Delivery Agreements and (b) will be incorporated in its delivery plan for Service Delivery Agreements in advance of the 2004 Spending Review.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 22 May 2003
	The Department is fully committed to delivering the objectives of sustainable development (SD) both through its core business policies and its operations. A Departmental Strategy is under development, and progress against cross-Government and DWP specific targets is published annually. A Ministerial SD Task Force has been established to consider WSSD outcomes and review the UK Strategy for SD, at which I will represent DWP.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Iraq

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: Saddam Hussein has been removed. His capacity to murder Iraqi people in their thousands has been ended. The coalition are seeking to build a process to create a democratically elected Iraqi Government. Coalition forces have not found WMD but (the Government says) this will take time.
	The UN and the international community has since shown its resolve to unite in the effort to help Iraqis rebuild their country. UN Security Council Resolution 1483 adopted unanimously on 22 May provides a post-conflict framework for Iraq.

Iraq

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the role of the United Nations in the reconstruction of Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: UNSCR 1483 unanimously adopted on 22 May welcomes the appointment the UN Special representative on Iraq and resolves that the United Nations should play a vital role in humanitarian relief, the reconstruction of Iraq, and the restoration and establishment of national and local institutions for representative governance.

Iraq

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the United States with respect to the administration in Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: The UK and US governments are working closely on the administration and reconstruction of Iraq, drawing on the shared vision for the future of Iraq put forward by our two governments at the Azores Summit. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has discussed the administration of Iraq with President Bush on frequent occasions, most recently at the G8 Summit at Evian, and my right hon. Friends the Foreign and Defence Secretaries are in frequent contact with Secretaries Powell and Rumsfeld.
	On the ground, John Sawers, the UK Special Envoy for Iraq, is working alongside Ambassador Paul Bremer, President Bush's appointee as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad.

Iraq

Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made to ensure the involvement of women in political reconstruction in Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: The PM's Special Representative to Iraq, John Sawers, and his team in Baghdad, are working closely with Ambassador Bremer and officials in the Coalition Provisional Authority to endeavour to ensure that women are fully involved in the key meetings dealing with the reconstruction of the political process in Iraq.
	Ambassador Bremer and John Sawers recently met with (40) Iraqi women to listen to their views and concerns as well as discuss ways to ensure their full and equal participation in the political reconstruction process.
	A gender expert has been seconded from the Women and Equality Unit to the Coalition Provisional Authority. In collaboration with other secondees in the CPA, she is reaching out to women, facilitating their participation in key meetings and discussing with them how they can play a full role in shaping the new Iraq.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether access to all information in his possession on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction was given to (a) the Chief Weapons Inspector and (b) the Director General of the IAEA.

Mike O'Brien: The Government shared all relevant information about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction with the weapons inspection teams from both UNMOVIC and the IAEA.

Iraq

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the future of Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave earlier in the House today to the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh).

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Iraq Nuclear Verification Office since 1 December 2002 on access of inspectors to Iraqi nuclear sites.

Mike O'Brien: The matter of a return to Iraq by INVO was discussed during a visit to the UK by Dr. El-Baradei on 12 May. Dr. El Baradei reported on INVO access to Iraq's nuclear facilities in his reports to the UN Security Council on 14 February and 7 March 2003.
	IAEA inspectors are currently on their way to Iraq to resume monitoring under the IAEA/Iraq Safeguards Agreement.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if UK officials will liaise with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in order to prepare guidelines outlining the role of the UN in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The role of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Iraq is outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1483, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. The UK is, and will remain, in close touch with the Secretary General's Special Representative for Iraq. He enjoys our full support.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official communication channels there are between British officials in Iraq and UN agencies involved in humanitarian efforts.

Mike O'Brien: UN Officials in Iraq are co-operating with many UN and other humanitarian agencies working in Iraq, including the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Iraqi administrators and NGOs. We are communicating with them both in Iraq and through our missions to the UN in New York and Geneva. In addition DFID has provided seven secondments to UN agencies.

Iraq

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a representative from his Department will be attending the weekly meetings between the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Iraq and NGOs in the region.

Mike O'Brien: A DFID adviser on the staff of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) attends weekly meetings between the UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Iraq and NGOs in the region.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Iraq Planning unit was set up; how many personnel were assigned to it and from which Departments; how long the Iraq Planning Unit is expecting to continue its operations; what the annual budget is of the Iraq Planning Unit; what recommendations the Iraq Planning Unit made for Iraqi reconstruction; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The Iraq Planning Unit (now the Iraq Policy Unit) (IPU) was set up on 10 February this year. It began with six personnel. It now has some 30 staff. The majority of staff have come from the FCO, but other Government Departments, the MOD, DfID, and HMT, also have officials working in it. There is no present plan to close down the IPU. It does not have a separate budget, but is funded from within the Middle East and North Africa Directorate budget. In its four months' existence, the IPU has written papers on all aspects of reconstruction in Iraq.

Chechnya

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Russian government about its security policy in Chechnya.

Denis MacShane: We regularly raise the issue of Chechnya with the Russian authorities both in our bilateral dialogue and through the EU. As recent suicide bombings show, Russia faces a serious security problem in the region. However, we continue to stress that operations in Chechnya must respect human rights and the rule of law.

Middle East Road Map

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress on the Middle East road map.

Mike O'Brien: The publication of the road map and the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh has created a vital new opportunity in the Middle East Peace Process. This is the best opportunity to make progress for over two years, The parties must seize it, acting in parallel to improve the security and humanitarian situation.
	I welcome President Bush's continuing engagement, as demonstrated by his summits with Arab leaders at Sharm al-Shaikh and with Prime Ministers Abbas and Sharon at Aqaba.
	Both sides have made important commitments: the Palestinians on ending terrorism and incitement, the Israelis on dismantling settlement outposts and improving the humanitarian situation. The Palestinian and Israeli people now need to see deeds that match these words. Extremists must not be allowed to prevent progress and condemn the people to further suffering. All parties must remain courageous and committed to peaceful dialogue. The Palestinian and Israeli people now need to see deeds that match these words. Progress will require parallel actions.

Middle East Road Map

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress with the road map for peace in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier in the House today by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban).

Afghanistan

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Afghanistan.

Mike O'Brien: The UK and international community continue to work closely with the Afghan Transitional Administration to support the full implementation of the 2001 Bonn Agreement, assist Security Sector Reform, deliver effective reconstruction across the country, and counter the threat from narcotics.

Afghanistan

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress of the campaign to restrict the supply of drugs from Afghanistan.

Mike O'Brien: The Afghan Transitional Administration adopted a national drug strategy on 19 May. The UK has committed £70 million over the next three years to assist in the objective of eliminating opium poppy from Afghanistan and will post additional British Embassy personnel to Kabul in the coming months to help the Afghan Transitional Administration to achieve their objective.

Zimbabwe

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to visit Harare in the next three months to discuss the future of support for the Zimbabwean economy and the maintenance of democracy.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to visit Harare in the next three months.

Zimbabwe

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of other southern African governments on the position in Zimbabwe.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given earlier in the House today by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the hon. Member for Southwark, North and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes). In addition, President Mogae of Botswana will visit the UK this week.

Zimbabwe

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further measures the EU and the UK will take to restore good governance in Zimbabwe.

Bill Rammell: We continue to work with our EU, Commonwealth and other international partners towards restoring good governance and the rule of law in Zimbabwe.
	We supported the EU statement of 2 June calling on the Government of Zimbabwe to desist from violence.
	At the G8 summit in Evian my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and other G8 leaders took the opportunity to discuss with President Mbeki and other African leaders the steps they are taking to resolve the current crisis in Zimbabwe.
	The G8 condemned the action taken by the Zimbabwean authorities on Monday 2 June against their own people and called on the Zimbabwean Government to accept its citizens' right to demonstrate against the regime peacefully.

Agricultural Work Permits

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme permits have been issued during 2003 (a) in total and (b) from the United Kingdom embassy in Ukraine.

Bill Rammell: The Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme is quota-based. The Home Office issues work cards to the operators of the scheme (agricultural businesses in the United Kingdom.) The work cards are then issued to prospective participants (who must be aged between 18–25 and in full-time education) by the operators of the scheme on behalf of the Home Office.
	A total of 25,000 work cards were made available to operators of the scheme for 2003. Our embassy in Kiev has issued visas to 2,338 holders of work cards under the scheme this year.

Agricultural Work Permits

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made with the issuing of Seasonal Agricultural Worker Scheme permits from UK embassies overseas.

Bill Rammell: Our overseas posts deal with the entry clearance applications of visa nationals who hold SAWS work cards as and when they are submitted. Non visa nationals holding SAWS work cards need to seek entry clearance before travelling to the UK.

Agricultural Work Permits

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many days the UK embassy in Ukraine was open in May 2003 to issue Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme permits.

Bill Rammell: The British embassy in Kiev was open for 19 working days in May, and worked an additional Saturday as overtime in order to facilitate the issue of Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme visas.

China

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese Government on behalf of Chinese British citizens, on the process of adoption of children from China, concerning the issue of closed borders due to the SARS outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have made no representations. We understand that the China Centre of Adoption Affairs has postponed the issuing of adoption papers to foreign adopters to help prevent the spread of SARS in China, and that they will lift their restrictions as soon as SARS permits.

Conflict Prevention Pool

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what percentage, and how much, of the Conflict Prevention Pool budget for the financial years (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05 is allocated to (i) military activity, (ii) humanitarian relief, (iii) education, (iv) military equipment, (v) direct grants to governments and (vi) administration; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the priority (a) countries and (b) themes are for the Conflict Prevention Pool; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what money is available for use in each of the priority areas of the Conflict Prevention Pool; and what percentage these allocations represent as a proportion of the total budget.

Jack Straw: For 2003–04, the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) has a programme allocation of £74 million. Programme allocations fund 14 strategies, which can be regional or thematic. The allocations to GCPP priority countries and thematic strategies for financial year 2003–04, set in March 2003 by a Ministerial Committee, which I chair, are:
	
		
			 Strategies £ million Percentage 
		
		
			 Afghanistan 16.60 18.87 
			 Belize and Guatemala 1.79 2.04 
			 Central and Eastern Europe 4.80 5.46 
			 India/Pakistan 2.00 2.27 
			 Indonesia/East Timor 1.48 1.68 
			 Middle-East and North-Africa 5.00 5.68 
			 Nepal 6.00 6.82 
			 OSCE 1.00 1.14 
			 Russia/Former Soviet Union 11.50 13.07 
			 Security Sector Reform 5.05 5.74 
			 Small Arms, Light Weapons 9.45 10.74 
			 Sri Lanka 1.10 1.25 
			 TheBalkans 11.50 13.07 
			 United Nations 10.69 12.15 
		
	
	The total allocated is higher than the Treasury funding allocation for financial year 2003–04 of £74 million because it incorporates funds carried over from previous years and over-programming on the basis of experience of previous spend patterns. Final allocations for 2004–05 will not be set until later this financial year.
	Strategies allocate funds to specific projects, which may include a number of activities, though the provision of humanitarian aid is not generally a call on the Conflict Prevention Pools. Projects within Global Pool strategies cover a wide range of activity. To provide a budgetary breakdown would incur disproportionate costs.
	The planned Global Conflict Prevention Pool report will, however, give a better insight into activities under each strategy. It is due to be published later in the year and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

Convention on the Future of Europe

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Denis MacShane: Valery Giscard d'Estaing has been asked to present, at the 19–20 June Thessaloniki European Council, the final report on the Convention on the Future of Europe. The Government are confident that the convention's final output will be good for the United Kingdom and good for the kind of Europe we want: enlarged, more effective, more accountable and more efficient.
	The convention will be followed by an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), where decisions will be taken by unanimity.

Counter-terrorism Programme

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what categories, activities and equipment are funded from the counter-terrorism assistance budget of (a) his Department and (b) the Global Opportunities Fund.

Jack Straw: I announced on 8 May 2003 that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had established the Global Opportunities Fund. The Counter-Terrorism Programme, which replaces the previous FCO Counter-Terrorism Assistance budget, was one of the first five programmes to be launched.
	Over the last 14 months, funds from these budgets have been used to deliver specific counter-terrorism training to over 70 countries on five different continents. To date, no equipment has been supplied under the counter-terrorism programmes, but assistance has been delivered covering the drafting of counter-terrorism legislation, efforts to combat the financing of terrorism, aviation security, crisis management, bomb disposal and police investigation and forensic skills.
	Counter-terrorism assistance from the GOF will rise to £4 million this financial year and continue to rise over the next two years.

Cyprus

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the future of Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 4 June 2003, Official Report, column 22WS.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo concerning internal conflicts; what advice was given; and what assistance was offered.

Bill Rammell: We have regular discussions with the President and Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and with President Kabila's National Committee for the implementation of the Global Accord, signed by all Congolese parties in December 2002. In concert with our international partners we continue to underline to all parties to the conflict the importance of abiding by their commitments to the peace process, and of reuniting the country under a transitional national government to prepare for elections.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Governments of (a) Uganda, (b) Rwanda, (c) Angola and (d) Zimbabwe concerning the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We regularly discuss the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes with regional governments, including Rwanda, Uganda and Angola. We remain concerned by the situation in the DRC, particularly the humanitarian crisis in the north-eastern Ituri region. We were active in encouraging the governments of Rwanda and Uganda to respond positively to the UN Secretary-General's request to send an Interim Emergency Multinational Force to Bunia (Ituri region).

Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Cuba on the imprisonment of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The UK, along with EU partners, is deeply concerned by the recent arrests and harsh sentencing of 75 political opponents of the Cuban regime, including Dr. Biscet. We have repeatedly underlined this concern to the Cuban Government, both in Havana and in London, and we will continue to call for their release.

EU Draft Constitution

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what other areas besides marine resources the EU is allocated exclusive competence on the draft EU constitution.

Denis MacShane: The latest draft of the EU constitutional treaty proposes in Article 12 of Part 1 that "the Union shall have exclusive competence to establish competition rules within the internal market, and in the following areas: monetary policy, for the member states which have adopted the euro; common commercial policy; customs union; the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy."
	In the amendments that the Government have submitted to the Convention, we have stressed that the competences exercise should largely clarify existing competences rather than extend Union competence. For this reason we have proposed that the competence to establish competition rules within the internal market be listed under Article 13 as an area of shared competence rather than in Article 12 as an area of exclusive competence.

EU Regulations

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many European Community regulations (a) came into force on United Kingdom entry, (b) have become applicable since the UK's Accession and (c) are in force; how many regulations introduced since 1973 have been (i) amended and (ii) replaced existing regulations; and where EC Regulations are listed in a form easily accessible to the General Public.

Denis MacShane: The precise number of EC regulations which came into force for the United Kingdom on accession, and which currently remain in force, is not held centrally by the Government. Equally, records of the number of regulations which have come into force since accession are not held. Many such regulations will have merely amended or repealed existing regulations. It would incur disproportionate cost to compile thisinformation.
	However, a directory of all Community legislation currently in force is available freely to the general public on http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/lif/index.html. This is structured in an easily accessible format by policy area and indicates where legislation has been amended or updated.

European Union (Marine Resources)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he intends to make on the draft EU constitution's provision for an exclusive EU competence over the marine resources of the sea.

Denis MacShane: In the amendments to the draft EU Constitutional Treaty that the Government have submitted to the Convention, we have emphasised that the competences exercise should clarify existing competences rather than extend Union competence.
	The Government believe that the inclusion of the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy at draft Article 12 of Part 1 of the draft Constitutional Treaty, as an area of exclusive Union competence, represents an accurate reflection of the current position with regards to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
	The European Court of Justice held, in Case 804/79 (Commission v UK) that, "since the expiration on 1 January 1979 of the transitional period laid down by Article 102 of the [UK's] Act of Accession, power to adopt, as part of the common fisheries policy, measures relating to the conservation of the resources of the sea has belonged fully and definitively to the Community." That said, Council Regulation 2371/2002 gives member states the right to introduce non-discriminatory conservation measures, up to 12 miles from the shore line. Such measures must conform with the CFP and must be cleared with the Commission in advance.

Kashmir

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Governments of India and Pakistan about Kashmir.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly raises our concerns about Kashmir with the Governments of India and Pakistan, including during frequent telephone calls. The Foreign Secretary and Indian Foreign Minister Sinha also discussed Kashmir during their meeting on 20 May. We hope there will be further opportunities to discuss Kashmir with senior Pakistanis and Indians in the near future.
	As the Foreign Secretary said in his press statement of 2 May, we warmly welcome the announcement that India and Pakistan are to resume full diplomatic relations and re-establish transport links between the two countries. We hope that these positive developments prove to be the first steps in a process of building confidence, normalising bilateral relations and resolving outstanding differences, including Kashmir.

Ministerial Visit

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Europe next plans to visit Spain.

Denis MacShane: I visited Madrid on 6 June 2003 when I had a useful discussion on a number of European issues with my opposite number, Ramon de Miguel.

Montserrat

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Governor of Montserrat; and when he next plans to visit Montserrat.

Denis MacShane: My noble Friend Baroness Amos, then Minister for the Overseas Territories, met the Governor of Montserrat on 1 May 2003 at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	Baroness Amos last visited Montserrat in December 2001, when she had the chance to meet the Governor and Members of the Government of Montserrat. There are no plans for a further visit at present.

Opium Poppy Eradication Programme

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the extent to which the Opium-poppy Eradication Programme has (a) deferred Afghan farmers from opium-poppy production and (b) decreased the supply of heroin to the UK.

Mike O'Brien: The Afghan Transitional Administration estimate that around 25 per cent. of the crop was destroyed as a result of their eradication programme for the 2002 harvest. A potential 79 tonnes of heroin, two to three times the UK's annual consumption, was taken out of the supply chain. A proportion of this was bound to be destined for the UK but it is not possible to gauge exactly how much.
	The Afghan National Drug Strategy, which was adopted on 19 May, recognises that eradication will not eliminate drugs from Afghanistan on its own and must be balanced with other measures to interdict drugs and to encourage development of rural communities to promote sustainable alternatives for poppy farmers.

Pakistan

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on (a) the impact of the invasion of Iraq, on public opinion in Pakistan and (b) support for fundamentalist Islamist views.

Mike O'Brien: During the military action in Iraq there were several relatively small, and mostly peaceful, demonstrations in Pakistan. There was, understandably, wide media coverage and public debate, mostly critical of coalition action. The religious alliance the MMA, secured 12 per cent. of the vote in the October 2002 elections. It is an alliance of six parties reflecting many shades of conservative Muslim opinion in Pakistan. Thereare no clear indications to suggest their support base has strengthened further in recent months.

Pakistan

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether British citizens have been ordered in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan to veil themselves in public.

Mike O'Brien: We are not aware of any British citizens who have been ordered to veil themselves in the north west frontier province or elsewhere in Pakistan. We are aware that the North West Frontier Province Assembly has passed the Shariat Bill which envisages an Islamic way of life in the Province. However, the law is not yet in force and its constitutionality has reportedly been challenged in the Supreme Court. We will continue to monitor the situation.

Pakistan

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rules Fedex imposes on its acceptance of visa applications for visits to the UK from Pakistan; what arrangements there are where such an application is outside those restrictions; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: This information is available on the UKvisas website, the address of which is www.ukvisas.gov.uk.
	The Visa Section in Islamabad remains unable to accept personal callers and all applications for entry clearance must be made through the courier service, Gerry's Fedex. The High Commission is currently only able to resolve certain categories of application and advises Gerry's Fedex which types of application they are able to accept.
	The types of visitor application which can currently be considered are:
	Those who have travelled to the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the USA within the last five years as a visitor.
	Business visitors with a letter of invitation from a company in the UK who have travelled to the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the USA within the last five years and has evidence of this travel.
	Persons aged 60 and over going to visit close relatives in the UK.
	Visitors with urgent and compassionate reasons to travel, who have prior agreement from the British High Commission that the application will be accepted.
	Someone wishing to undertake urgent medical treatment, with evidence of the referral from a doctor in Pakistan and an appointment letter from a doctor in the UK.
	Upon receipt of the correct fee, Gerry's Fedex will forward the application to the Visa Section in Islamabad for consideration.
	Those persons who wish to visit the UK but do not meet the criteria outlined, may apply for a visit visa in a third country. This should be done with the prior agreement of the visa issuing office of the British Mission(s) in that country. Those applications where there are exceptional and compassionate circumstances involved are considered on their own merits. The procedure allows the applicant to fax the visa section, detailing the kind of application they wish to make and why it should be treated as an urgent/compassionate case. If the Visa Section agrees that it can be considered, the applicant is sent a letter to take with their application to Gerry's Fedex where it will be accepted.

Sharia Law

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Nigeria concerning the sentence imposed on Amina Lawal; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Harry Cohen) on 4 June 2003, Official Report, column 440W.

Sri Lanka

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what his Department's policy is on the return of internally displaced Tamil people to their villages and towns;
	(2)  how many internally displaced Tamil people live in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the internal displacement of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Mike O'Brien: The UNHCR estimates that the Sri Lankan conflict has displaced over 800,000 people. (Of the 600,000 surveyed, some 80 per cent. are Tamil, and 14 Muslim and 5 per cent. Sinhalese.)
	Since the ceasefire in February 2002, some 270,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned home spontaneously. However, the British Government cannot endorse organised returns for IDPs while the UNHCR recommends against it (given the lack of infrastructure to support returnees, and the large amount of unexploded ordinance in the north and east).

Sri Lanka

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the meetings his Department has held with representatives of (a) the Sri Lankan government and (b) the Tamil people to discuss development in each of the past five years.

Mike O'Brien: FCO staff in Sri Lanka meet regularly with representatives of the Government, all political parties, the LTTE, as well as ordinary Sri Lankans of all ethnic communities, throughout the island. They discuss many issues, including development. The most recent high-level meeting on development took place in Sri Lanka on 4 June when the High Commissioner met senior LTTE representatives.

Sri Lanka

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the peace-process in Sri Lanka.

Mike O'Brien: The peace process has made remarkable progress since February 2002, particularly the agreement to pursue a political solution through a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka. However, at present it is in a critical state. The LTTE has suspended its participation in the peace talks and did not attend the Donors Conference in Tokyo on 9/10 June.
	We are working with all concerned to encourage both sides to continue dialogue and for the LTTE to return to the negotiating table.

Sri Lanka

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the human rights record of the Sri Lankan government.

Mike O'Brien: Sri Lanka is a signatory to all six core human rights instruments, and established a Human Rights Commission in August 1997. We are encouraged that the Government of Sri Lanka has taken measures to improve its human rights record. However there are still significant human rights issues that need to be addressed by both the Government and the LTTE. During the peace talks both sides have made commitments to address these issues, including the needs of women and children, particularly those affected by armed conflict. We hope these commitments will be taken forward once peace talks are resumed.

Sustainable Development

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on what remit relating to sustainable development is (a) required and (b) undertaken by his Department's (i) executive agencies, (ii) advisory non-departmental bodies, (iii) executive non-departmental bodies, (iv) tribunals, (v) public corporations and (vi) other bodies.

Bill Rammell: None of the bodies referred to in the question has a specific remit for sustainable development. However, the FCO expects these organisations to reflect the strategic objectives of the Department.
	These include a long-standing commitment to promoting international sustainable development based on the outcome of the Earth Summit held in Rio in 1992 and more recently the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. Promoting sustainable development is one of the top seven strategic policy priorities for the FCO over the next ten years.
	The FCO has two Public Service Agreements that relate to sustainable development (Business Plan 2003–06):
	Public Service Agreement 7:
	Make globalisation work for sustainable development in the UK and internationally (especially in Africa) by promoting democracy and the rule of law, good economic and environmental governance, and security of long-term energy supply, measured by specific underlying targets.
	Public Service Agreement 11:
	Improvement in the governance, environment and security of the Overseas Territories, and more diversified economic development, as measured by implementation of the commitments in the 1999 White Paper "Partnership for Progress and Prosperity—Britain and the Overseas Territories"

Uganda (Child Soldiers)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with the Government of Uganda concerning child soldiers participating in past and current internal disputes; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We support the Government of Uganda in its determination to bring an end to the suffering caused by the rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army, who are known to kidnap and use children as soldiers. In recent discussions we have encouraged the government to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict.
	We have also discussed with the Ugandan Government the recent reports of underage soldiers being recruited by government defence units in the north. The Government of Uganda have assured us that they are cooperating with UNICEF to identify and demobilise the recruits. Our High Commission is monitoring the situation.

West Papua

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what investigation the UK representative to the UN supported into the conduct and operation of the 1969 Act of Free Choice in West Papua; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what papers are held by his Department on the 1969 Act of Free Choice in West Papua whose publication has been withheld under the Seventy Five Year rule.

Mike O'Brien: There has been no UN or UK investigation into the conduct and operation of the 1969 Act of Free Choice beyond the observation of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative. In November 1969 the UN General Assembly discussed the Report of the Special Representative who oversaw the implementation of the Act of Free Choice. A Resolution was adopted to take note of the Report and the fulfilment of the responsibilities of the Secretary General under the 1962 Dutch/Indonesian Agreement. The Resolution, sponsored by Belgium, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Thailand, and Indonesia was supported by the United Kingdom. 84 member states voted in favour, none against and 30 abstained.
	All identifiable papers on the incorporation of Papua (West Irian) into Indonesia have been released with the exception of extracts from a 1969 Research Department memorandum which contain marginal references to security and intelligence material; the substance of the memorandum has been released.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Partnership Agreements

Angela Eagle: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether she plans to conclude a partnership agreement with the trade unions representing the staff in her Department.

Rosie Winterton: There are no plans at present to conclude a partnership agreement with the trade unions representing staff within my Department. We continue to work closely with the unions, having a constructive dialogue with them particularly on our modernisation programmes (such as the Courts and Tribunals Modernisation and the Unified Courts Administration Programmes) underpinned by our joint consultation agreement.

Transsexuals

Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on progress towards meeting the standards set by the European Court of Human Rights on the legal position of transsexuals.

Rosie Winterton: The Government's policy on transsexual people remains unchanged from that set out in my Statement of 16 December 2002, Official Report, column 36WS. We are committed to legislating as soon as possible to give transsexual people their Convention rights. Our aim is to publish a draft Bill later this Session with legislation following when Parliamentary time allows.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Seekers

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Afghans with (a) exceptional leave to remain in Britain and (b) awaiting a decision on an asylum application on appeal have received a resettlement grant in each month since August 2002.

Beverley Hughes: Pursuant to my reply, 28 April 2003, Official Report, column 62W
	, I regret to say that as a result of an administrative error, the figures within the table and the text were incorrect.
	The table details the number of individuals who travelled under the Return to Afghanistan Programme (RAP) each month between 20 August 2002 (when the Programme commenced) and 31 March 2003. In total there were 39 returnees and each received a resettlement grant (£600 per individual, up to a maximum of £2,500 per family).
	
		
			  Number of persons returned individually Number of persons returned as part of a family Total number of persons returned 
		
		
			 August 2002 1 0 1 
			 September 2002 2 0 3 
			 October 2002 2 1(6) 8 
			 November 2002 3 1(7) 10 
			 December 2002 0 0 0 
			 January 2003 4 0 4 
			 February 2003 1 0 1 
			 March 2003 7 1(5) 12 
		
	
	Source:
	Local management information provided by the Home Office Assisted Voluntary Return Team.

Asylum Seekers

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to revise the status of refused asylum seekers from Zimbabwe who are no longer being deported; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced a suspension on enforced returns of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe on 15 January 2002. We have, however, continued to process asylum claims.
	Those who are refused asylum may be granted some other form of leave if they have a protection need or there are other particularly compelling reasons to do so. In such cases a person would have been granted exceptional leave before 1 April 2003, or humanitarian protection or discretionary leave since then.
	Where a person has not been granted asylum, exceptional leave or humanitarian protection or discretionary leave, it follows that we do not consider that they have demonstrated a protection need or a compelling reason why they should be allowed to remain here. As a result, while we are not enforcing the removal of such individuals to Zimbabwe at present, they have no right to remain in the United Kingdom and are expected to return voluntarily.
	I consider that it is right that leave should not be granted to those who do not qualify for it under our international obligations or under the immigration rules or Government policy. Such individuals have no basis of stay in the United Kingdom and it would be inappropriate to grant a formal period of leave simply because removal was not currently being enforced.

Asylum Seekers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 1 May 2003, Official Report, column 523W, if he will make a statement on the systems that are in place to track and monitor failed asylum seekers.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) maintains databases containing address details for failed asylum seekers, which are also recorded in the individual's Home Office file. All applicants, and their representatives, are told of their obligation to notify the Home Office of any subsequent change of address.
	A large proportion of failed asylum seekers are required to report periodically to the United Kingdom Immigration Service (UKIS) and verification of the place of residence occurs during the reporting event. UKIS make regular checks, by letter and personal visits, to ensure that all individuals still reside at the recorded address.
	There are eight designated reporting centres to assist in managing reporting regimes and, in addition, a person may be required to report to a police station near their address.

Asylum Seekers

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which countries failed asylum seekers are not being removed; and for what reasons.

Beverley Hughes: We do not currently enforce returns to: Burundi, where the general security situation is poor; to Iraq, previously due to the nature of the Saddam regime and subsequently due to the recent conflict; to Somalia, due to conditions arising from fighting between rival militia; or Zimbabwe, where we introduced a temporary suspension of enforced removals in January 2002 due to the political situation.
	We continue to monitor conditions in these countries carefully and enforced returns will be resumed as soon as circumstances allow. We do not accept that any of these countries are wholly unsafe, or that failed asylum seekers would be at risk of persecution if they returned. However, those unsuccessful asylum applicants who have exhausted their appeal rights, and do not return voluntarily, will not be forcibly removed at the present time.

Asylum Seekers

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to inform hon. Members of changes in the list of countries to which failed asylum seekers are not being removed.

Beverley Hughes: We do not currently enforce returns to Burundi, Iraq, Somalia, or Zimbabwe. We continue to monitor conditions in these countries and other asylum producing countries carefully.
	There is no list of countries which is periodically published. Specific decisions are taken in response to changes in individual countries and announced in the most appropriate way at that time.

Asylum Seekers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up surgeries for hon. Members to discuss asylum cases.

Beverley Hughes: I do not have any plans to set up any surgeries to discuss asylum cases.

Animal Experiments

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the interdepartmental group on the 3Rs to report on the recommendation, contained in the House of Lords' report on the use of animals in scientific procedures, that an administration centre for the 3Rs be set up.

Bob Ainsworth: In our response to the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on animals in scientific procedures, published on 20 January 2003 (Cm 5729), the Government agreed to explore further the recommendation that a centre should be set up for research into the 3Rs—advanced methods which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals used or refine the procedures involved to minimise suffering. The Interdepartmental Group on the 3Rs, led by the Home Office and comprising members from the Department of Health, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Office of Science and Technology, the Health and Safety Executive and other agencies, has been tasked with taking this forward. I expect to receive a progress report on its findings in the autumn.

Animal Experiments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences have been granted for experiments involving animals sponsored by government departments since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Licences for programmes of work involving scientific or other experimental procedures on protected animals are granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
	The number of such licences granted over any period is not indicative of the amount of animal research and testing work in progress in any sector or category, since licences are granted for varying terms up to a maximum of five years. More informative is the number of licences in force at the end of each year. Both sets of data have since 1998 been published in the annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain, copies of which are placed in the Library (the latest one, covering 2001, was published as Command 5581).
	For ease of reference the total number of project licencesin force at the end of each year, from 1998 to 2001, is shown in the table, with an indication of the percentage of licences operative in Government establishments:
	
		
			 Year Total number of project licences in force at end of year Percentage of total project licences held in Government establishments 
		
		
			 1998 3,650 5 
			 1999 3,378 5 
			 2000 3,481 5 
			 2001 3,650 4 
		
	
	Many other licensed programmes of work are financed from public funds, for example in higher education establishments, but collated data on funding and sponsorship sources is not readily available.

Animal Experiments

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on the proposal to establish a 3Rs administration centre as recommended in the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on animals in scientific procedures, HL Paper L50-I; and if he will make a statement on the funding to establish such a centre.

Bob Ainsworth: In our response to the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on animals in scientific procedures, published on 20 January 2003 (Cm 5729), the Government agreed to explore further the recommendation that a centre should be set up for research into the 3Rs—advanced methods which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals used or refine the procedures involved to minimise suffering. The inter-departmental group on the 3Rs, led by the Home Office, has been tasked with taking this forward. Issues of funding will form part of its review. I expect to receive a progress report on its findings in the autumn.

Animal Experiments

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to consult on the proposed centre for the 3Rs in respect of animal experimentation and what timescale has been set out for the consultation process.

Bob Ainsworth: In our response the report of the House of Lords Select Committee on animals in scientific procedures, published on 20 January 2003 (Cm 5729), the Government agreed to explore further the recommendation that a centre should be set up for research into the 3Rs—advanced methods which replace animal use, reduce the number of animals used or refine the procedures involved to minimise suffering. The Inter-Departmental Group on the 3Rs, led by the Home Office, has been tasked with taking this forward.
	As a first step, the Inter-Departmental Group has conducted a survey to gather information on what is currently being done by way of research and development of methods and strategies allied to the 3Rs, what more scientific stakeholders would like to see done, and how best further action might be pursued. I expect to receive a progress report on the Inter-Departmental Group's findings, including any proposals for further consultation, in the autumn.

Animal Experiments

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and what plans he has to amend it;
	(2)  if he will amend the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to prevent the duplication of experiments.

Bob Ainsworth: The 1986 Act provides a strong regulatory framework. It regulates any experimental or other scientific procedure applied to a "protected animal" that may have the effect of causing that animal pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm. It provides an effective means by which to balance the need to protect animals from unnecessary suffering with the legitimate requirements of the scientific community (and the public) for medical and other essential research and safety testing. The system set up under the 1986 Act is flexible and responsive to changing circumstances and requirements and its enabling provisions allow changes to be made quickly and easily by administrative means, or using secondary legislation.
	The Animal Procedures Committee (ARC) review of the operation of the Act, published in its Annual Report for 1997, concluded that the Act provides a good framework for a well-regulated and responsible use of animals in scientific procedures in the United Kingdom. A number of recommendations arising from the ARC review to enhance the effectiveness of the Act have subsequently been implemented and further improvements are continually being sought. Further reviews are currently in hand of the cost benefit assessment (by the ARC) and of section 24 of the Act. A review of the format and content of the statistics of use of animals in scientific procedures has also recently been announced.
	We have no evidence that unnecessary duplicate testing takes place.

Animal Experiments

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last 10 years for breaches of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Bob Ainsworth: During the 10 years 1992 to 2001 one prosecution is known to have taken place under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 involving persons licensed under the Act. This was in 1998. However, prosecutions can be brought for carrying out scientific procedures on animals by persons not licensed under the Act but reliable information is not available on such cases.

Antisocial Behaviour

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Firearms Consultative Committee on Clauses 42 to 44 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Bob Ainsworth: The Chairman of the Firearms Consultative Committee wrote to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 28 April supporting the introduction of clause 42 but expressing some reservations, which not all members shared, about the proposed changes in the age limits for the unsupervised use of air weapons by people under 17 years old as set out in clause 43. The Committee were also concerned that the order-making power proposed in clause 44 for dealing with weapons that use the air cartridge system was too widely drawn and that compensation should be paid to existing owners if a ban was introduced. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

Antisocial Behaviour

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation has been made of the effectiveness and ease of implementation of anti-social behaviour (a) order and (b) contracts; what advice he is giving to (i) local councils and (ii) the police on the merits and drawbacks of each; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Legislative changes were introduced by the Police Reform Act 2002 to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) in response to problems identified by the Home Office review of ASBOs published in April 2002. These changes were accompanied by Home Office guidance on both ASBOs and Anti-Social Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) which was distributed to local authorities and police in November 2002.
	Further feedback from practitioners since the implementation of these measures has informed the proposed changes to ASBOs in the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill.
	The Anti-Social Behaviour Unit is continuing to work with practitioners across the country to spread good practice in using the available tools, including ASBOs and ABCs, to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Antisocial Behaviour

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department will take to ensure that the Government's proposed pilot for extending fixed penalty fines for antisocial behaviour to 16 and 17-year-olds does not (a) breach Article 27 UN CRC, and (b) adversely affect its targets on reducing the level of child poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The pilots are intended to deal with antisocial behaviour by young people in an appropriate way without recourse to the full criminal justice process. This is in the interests both of society in general and of the young people themselves. We will however, consider how to evaluate the direct and any indirect effects of the scheme.

Bail

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what proposals he has to ensure that prosecutors may appeal against bail decisions in cases where it is highly likely defendants may re-offend;
	(2)  whether his proposals to provide the prosecution with extended rights of appeal against bail will apply to decisions taken in a Crown court; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Bail Act 1976 provides that the court may refuse bail if there are substantial grounds for believing that the defendant would commit an offence if released on bail. Where (in the case of an adult defendant) the evidence of such a risk is the fact that he was already on bail at the date of the offence, Clause 14 of the Criminal Justice Bill requires the court to refuse bail unless it is satisfied that there is no significant risk that he would commit an offence.
	The Bail Amendment Act 1993 gives the prosecution a right of appeal to the Crown court against a decision by magistrates to grant bail, but this is at present limited to cases where the defendant is charged with or convicted of an offence which is punishable by imprisonment for five years or more (or an offence of taking a conveyance without authority or aggravated vehicle taking). Clause 18 of the Criminal Justice Bill extends this right of appeal to cover all imprisonable offences, as recommended by Lord Justice Auld. It will continue to apply only to decisions taken by magistrates courts.

Bail

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place to inform victims and witnesses of decisions relating to bail conditions of suspects and early release of prisoners.

Paul Goggins: In England and Wales (separate arrangements apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland), the police are generally responsible for keeping victims informed of case developments, up to and including their conclusion in the courts. At present, this would not routinely include informing victims about bail decisions although the police have discretion to do so in cases where, for example, it would put the victim at risk of harm if they were not so informed.
	One of our manifesto commitments is to introduce a Victims of Crime Bill during the course of this Parliament. The Bill, which will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows, is likely to include a statutory Code of Practice to replace the Victim's Charter. The Code will place some 70 to 80 obligations on criminal justice agencies to deliver specific services, within prescribed timescales, to victims. Among these obligations will be a specific requirement for the police to inform victims of bail decisions and, when relevant, bail conditions.
	The Code will apply to victims, including those who go on to give evidence as witnesses. We also recognise that we need to do more to support witnesses who are not victims. An interagency working group has recently undertaken a wide-ranging review of the services provided to witnesses. Among other recommendations, it proposed improving the information given to witnesses and that good practice guidance be developed and disseminated following local pilot studies in witness care.
	Victims already have a right to be consulted about the release of prisoners. Since April 2001, the National Probation Service for England and Wales has had a statutory duty to consult and notify victims about all release arrangements and release conditions where an offender receives a custodial sentence of 12 months or more for a sexual or other violent offence. There are currently no plans to extend this service to witnesses.

CCTV

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to his Department for CCTV funding have been rejected in each year since 1999; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: A potential £170 million will be spent funding 684 CCTV schemes under the Crime Reduction Programme CCTV Initiative.
	Under round one of the initiative in 1999–2000, 354 funding applications worth a potential £63 million were successful, 382 were unsuccessful and a further 12 were withdrawn.
	Under round two of the initiative in 2001, 332 funding applications worth a potential £106 million were successful, 449 (including statements of intent) were unsuccessful and a further 10 were withdrawn. Funding was subsequently withdrawn from two successful applicants.

Charities Bill

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for the proposed Charities Bill.

Beverley Hughes: The Strategy Unit Report is a report to Government and does not represent settled Government Policy. Home Office officials have now completed their analysis of the responses for which the Home Office has responsibility. It is the Government's intention to publish during the summer a summary of the responses to the consultation and an indication as to how the Government propose to take the review's recommendations forward.
	Where recommendations have commanded general support and do not require legislation, we aim to move as quickly as possible to implement them, although some may first need further policy development work.
	However, legislation would be needed to give effect to many of the recommendations. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has given a commitment to publish a draft Charities Bill as soon as possible.

Crime Statistics (East Yorkshire)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the population of each prison in Haltemprice and Howden was in the last quarter for which figures are available; and what the figures were for the preceding four quarters.

Paul Goggins: There are two prisons in the hon. Member's constituency, Everthorpe and Wolds. The population data for each of the two prisons for the most recent and the preceding four quarters is given in the following table.
	
		
			  31 March 2002 30 June 2002 30 September 2002 31 December 2002 31 March 2003 
		
		
			 Everthorpe 385 374 374 365 375 
			 Wolds 405 409 403 311(17) 348 
		
	
	(17) Decrease in population at Wolds because of change of use from local prison to category C training prison.

Crime/Policing (Merseyside)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the chance of becoming a victim of crime in Merseyside was in each year since 1995.

Bob Ainsworth: The larger sample size of the British Crime Survey (BCS) in 2001–02 has resulted in the ability, for the first time, to analyse data (questions that are asked of the whole sample) by police force area such as Merseyside. Results for the Best Value Performance Indicator 120 measuring risk of victimisation of both personal and household crime for Merseyside for 2001–02 interviews can be found in 'Crime in England and Wales 2001–2002', Home Office Statistical Bulletin 07/02 (table 7.05). There is no comparable data for the years preceding 2001–02.
	Prior to the 2001–02 BCS there is only information available for the old Government Office Region (GOR) of Merseyside for the 1998 BCS (covering crime in 1997). Victimisation rates for violence, burglary and vehicle crime by GOR can be found in 'The 1998 British Crime Survey' Home Office Statistical Bulletin 21/98 (appendix tables A5.4, A5.10 and A5.15). This definition of GOR was not used in previous sweeps of the BCS.

Crime/Policing (Merseyside)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact of community support officers in the Sefton authority area; how many officers have been appointed; and what their primary duties are.

Bob Ainsworth: Merseyside police are currently evaluating the impact of their community support officers (CSOs). The results of this will be released in late October. To date, I understand, the CSOs have been very well received within the community.
	The Sefton area has nine CSOs, all of whom are allocated to the Bootle neighbourhood. Their primary duties are to supply a highly visible uniform presence within the neighbourhood and to assist in the gathering of information.

Detention Cells

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the specifications for police detention cells differ from those for magistrates courts detention cells; and what proposals he has to enable dual use where new combined courts and police stations are constructed.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 22 May 2003
	Cells in magistrates courts are designed to hold detainees during the periods when the courts are in session and may be used for multiple occupancy. Where detainees are held overnight they are usually transferred from magistrates court cells to other accommodation.
	Police cells are designed to hold detainees for 24 hours or longer and consequently usually do have provision for sleeping and in cell sanitation.
	Consideration is being given to some sharing by the police of magistrates court cells outside of the periods of court operations. This model is planned to be implemented and monitored at the new Warwickshire Criminal Justice Centre joint police station and magistrates court project.

DNA Profiles

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer of 1 May 2003, Official Report, column 524W, on DNA profiles, what estimate he has made of the number of people without previous convictions who will be affected by his policy of permitting the retention of DNA information from people who are arrested and then released without charge in the first year of operation of the new policy.

Bob Ainsworth: My earlier reply stated that it was estimated that in the region of 300,000 arrests would be affected by this change in policy. Further research work indicates that around 177,000 people could potentially be liable to have a sample of DNA taken in the first year who would not have been previously. However, it is not currently possible to indicate how many of these people may have previous convictions.

Dogs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs were reported stolen in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Double Jeopardy

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to extend the exception to the rule of double jeopardy to offences other than those listed in schedule 4 of the Criminal Justice Bill.

Paul Goggins: It will be necessary to include in Schedule 4 to the Criminal Justice Bill additional offences of equal seriousness, arising from changes to sexual offences currently before Parliament in the Sex Offences Bill. Other than this we have no plans to extend the exception to the double jeopardy rule to other offences.

Drugs

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many (a) men and (b) women have been convicted of drug dealing in the Greater London area in each of the last three years; and how many have been (i) sent to prison and (ii) fined;
	(2)  how many foreign nationals have been convicted of drug dealing in the Greater London area in each of the last three years and when sent to prison have been recommended for deportation.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of men and women convicted in the Greater London area of drug dealing are given in the table, together with information on the number sentenced to an immediate term of imprisonment or given a fine. The figures relate to 1998–2000, the last three years for which data are currently available.
	No information is collated centrally concerning the nationality of those convicted of drug offences.
	
		Number of persons convicted of drug dealing by gender and whether (i) sentenced to imprisonment or (ii) fined, Greater London, 1998–2000
		
			 Year and gender Convicted Imprisoned Fined 
		
		
			 1998
			 Male 1,551 896 128 
			 Female 190 76 7 
			 1999
			 Male 1,380 882 3 
			 Female 189 84 6 
			 2000
			 Male 1,169 738 42 
			 Female 105 53 4 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Police forces included in the total for the Greater London area are the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police Service.
	2. The term 'dealing' is taken to cover the following drug offences: possession with intent to supply unlawfully, unlawful supply, and unlawful import/export.
	Source:
	Drug and Alcohol Research Programme.

Firearms

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many deaths have been caused by firearms within the Greater London area in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many crimes involving firearms have occurred in each of the last five years in the London borough of Wandsworth.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of homicides involving firearms in the London region in the last five years are given in the table.
	
		
			  Number of firearm homicides 
		
		
			 1997(18) 26 
			 1998–99 19 
			 1999–2000 24 
			 2000–01(19) 28 
			 2001–02(19) 44 
		
	
	(18) Figures are on a calendar year basis for 1997, and thereafter on a financial year basis (12 months to March).
	(19) Figures recorded on the new boundary basis, as the Metropolitan Police ceded some areas to Essex, Hertfordshire and Surrey on 1 April 2000.
	Numbers of other firearm deaths are not collected by the Home Office.
	Numbers of firearm offences by London borough are not collected centrally.

Firearms

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the number of illegal firearms in circulation in the Greater London area.

Bob Ainsworth: The fact that firearms are being held illegally means it is difficult to assess accurately the numbers in circulation. However, steps are being taken to provide a clearer picture.
	The National Criminal Intelligence Service has expanded its firearms section and has a key role in pulling together, acting on and sharing good quality intelligence, particularly on the supply and movement of firearms.
	The setting up of the National Firearms Forensic Intelligence Database, supported by £1.4 million from the Home Office, will facilitate the linking of firearms offences through the automatic correlation of ballistics tests. This will contribute to a strategic overview of national firearms trends which will be available to all forces. Data is already being recorded on the information database in respect of cases submitted to the Forensic Science Service after 1 April 2003.

Firearms

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answers of 14 May 2003, Official Report, column 216W, on gun crime, how many weapons, and of what type, have been handed in (a) in total and (b) to each United Kingdom police force as part of the national gun amnesty.

Bob Ainsworth: Final figures for the amnesty will be made available soon. We are still waiting for confirmation of totals, together with detailed breakdowns of what was handed in, from a small number of police forces.

Interface with Faith Communities

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what way faith communities were consulted on the membership of his Department's Working Group which is reviewing the Government's Interface with Faith Communities.

Beverley Hughes: The Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom and the Inner Cities Religious Council were consulted on the membership of the Working Group. These highly experienced bodies are fully representative of the wide range of faith communities living in the United Kingdom.

Interface with Faith Communities

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average age is of the faith community members of his Department's Working Group which is reviewing the Government's Interface with Faith Communities.

Beverley Hughes: Age was not a consideration in inviting individuals from the faith communities to join the group. The sole criterion for selection was that individuals should have significant personal experience of having been involved in consultations by Government. The need to restrict the Group to a manageable size meant that only one such individual could be included from each of the five largest faith communities, as well as two further members to represent the Black-led Churches and the smaller faith communities.
	Adults of all ages have the opportunity to contribute to this review through their inputs to the questionnaires which have been sent to 106 faith representative organisations across the country.

Interface with Faith Communities

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria have been established for use by his Department's Working Group which is reviewing the Government's Interface with Faith Communities, to assess which organisations will represent faith communities in consultations with different Government departments.

Beverley Hughes: The Working Group will consider draft criteria at its next meeting on 20 June 2003.

Interface with Faith Communities

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) membership and (b) terms of reference are of his Department's Review Steering Group to whom his Department's Working Group, which is reviewing the Government's Interface with Faith Communities, will report.

Beverley Hughes: These details will be announced later this month.

Interface with Faith Communities

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Gurdwara councils formally consulted as part of the mapping exercise by his Department's Working Group which is reviewing the Government's Interface with Faith Communities; and what criteria were used to select the councils.

Beverley Hughes: My noble Friend, (Lord Filkin) will write to my hon Friend with a list of the Gurdwara Councils which have been consulted. These were selected on authoritative advice as those which have particular experience of having been consulted by local and national Government, and to achieve a regional spread

Interface with Faith Communities

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which Sikh organisations a questionnaire has been sent by his Department's Working Group reviewing the Government's Interface with Faith Communities; and what criteria were used to select the organisations.

Beverley Hughes: My noble Friend, (Lord Filkin) will write to my hon. Friend with a list of the 38 national and local Sikh organisations which have been sent the questionnaire.
	Regarding the criteria used in their selection, I refer my hon. Friend to the second part of the written reply given to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) on 19 May 2003, Official Report, column 643W.

Parliamentary Questions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam's written questions tabled for answer on 7 May on the Criminal Records Bureau.

Paul Goggins: The hon. Member's questions were answered on 21 May 2003, Official Report, columns 865–67W, 22 May 2003, Official Report, columns 986–88W, and 28 May 2003, Official Report, column 92W, and on 2 June 2003, Official Report, columns 140–43W.

Police

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers based in the London borough of Wandsworth have been subjected to physical attacks during the last 12 months.

Bob Ainsworth: The requested information is not available centrally.

Police Response Vehicles

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police response vehicles are available (a) in each London borough and (b) to the British Transport Police; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of police response vehicles available in each London borough is set out in the table. The three British Transport Police operational areas covering London (which police an area larger than that covered by the London boroughs) have 21 response cars and 17 response motorcycles.
	
		
			 London borough Instant response vehicles Area cars Total 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 5 4 9 
			 Barnet 20 3 23 
			 Bexley 8 2 10 
			 Brent 15 2 17 
			 Bromley 11 3 14 
			 Camden 12 5 17 
			 Croydon 12 4 16 
			 Ealing 9 2 11 
			 Enfield 5 5 10 
			 Greenwich 12 5 17 
			 Hackney 11 5 16 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 8 3 11 
			 Haringey 10 3 13 
			 Harrow 7 2 9 
			 Havering 8 4 12 
			 Hillingdon 10 4 14 
			 Hounslow 12 2 14 
			 Islington 12 4 16 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 6 2 8 
			 Kingston 9 1 10 
			 Lambeth 21 6 27 
			 Lewisham 9 3 12 
			 Merton 7 3 10 
			 Newham 10 5 15 
			 Redbridge 12 4 16 
			 Richmond 8 2 10 
			 Southwark 21 6 27 
			 Sutton 6 1 7 
			 Tower Hamlets 10 4 14 
			 Waltham Forest 9 5 14 
			 Wandsworth 14 4 18 
			 Westminster 17 4 21 
			 Heathrow 7 — 7 
			 Total 353 112 465 
		
	
	Note:All the above vehicles are classed by the Metropolitan police as 'response vehicles'. However, there are many other vehicles used in Boroughs that also respond to calls e.g. vans, panda cars, CID cars.

Police Response Vehicles

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police response vehicles have been in road accidents while on operational duty in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002; and if he will make a statement. (20617)
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of accidents in England and Wales involving police vehicles which were engaged in immediate/emergency response or pursuit at the time of the accident, are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of accidents 
		
		
			 2000–01 6,019  
			 2001–02 4,985  
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The information is provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to which forces submit statistical returns.
	2. All figures are for financial years.
	3. Figures for 2002–03 are not yet available.
	4. Two forces did not submit a return in 2001–02.
	The Government welcome the recognition by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that they must work to reduce the number of collisions involving police vehicles.
	ACPO are working closely with the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to identify why they occur and how they might be avoided. Useful information can be expected from the increasing use by forces of Automatic Data Recorders (ADR) and Vehicle Accident Data Recorders (VADR). These operate in a similar way to aircraft black boxes, providing data on such issues as speed, gear changes, braking, and the use of blue lights.

Police Standards Unit

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evaluation has taken place of the Police Standards Unit since its inception; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The work of the Police Standards Unit (PSU) is assessed regularly and its contribution to the Department's Public Service Agreements scrutinised. In addition, its programme of work is subject to management monitoring through regular programme board meetings on accepted programme management procedures. Its major projects, including, for example, performance improvement work with forces and the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and the Policing Priority Areas projects, are the subject of rigorous independent evaluation providing an assessment of success against objectives. Where appropriate, such evaluation produces good practice models for promulgating to the police service.

Police Vehicle Accidents

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidents police vehicles have been involved in, in each year since 1997.

Bob Ainsworth: The total number of police vehicle accidents in England and Wales since 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997–98 16,946 
			 1998–99 17,338 
			 1999–2000 18,068 
			 2000–01 19,266 
			 2001–02 16,826 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The information is provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to which forces submit statistical returns.
	2. All figures are for financial years.
	3. Figures for 2002–03 are not yet available.
	4. The figures include all incidents in which a police vehicle sustains damage, including those where no other vehicle is involved. They encompass a very wide range of incidents from the very serious to the trivial, such as a scratched vehicle in a police yard.

Policing Costs

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces applied for the special grant available to meet additional policing costs arising from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee; how much each police force applied for; how much was granted; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Police authorities are expected to make financial provision to deal with unusual or infrequent events. Where exceptional additional costs cannot be met from existing police authority reserves it is open to forces to apply for a special grant. Any such applications are considered within existing departmental provision for special grants.
	The only force to make application for additional grant in connection with the costs of policing the Golden Jubilee was the Metropolitan Police Service which subsequently received an additional £49 million to counter increased risks of terrorism, including funding to cover the Golden Jubilee costs.

Prison Officers

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much counselling is given to prison officers following serious incidents in order to allow recovery.

Paul Goggins: Counselling is available to staff following a serious incident in the Prison Service. The Prison Service Staff Care and Welfare Service (SCWS) provides an externally sourced, specialist service for those staff who are assessed as requiring counselling. BMI Health Services, the occupational health advisors to the Prison Service also assess and where appropriate, recommend treatment designed to support staff as part of their return to work programme.
	In the last 12 months, over 400 prison staff have been provided with an average of seven counselling sessions per person following incidents in establishments. The counselling budget available to SCWS has been significantly increased in the current financial year recognising the importance that the Prison Service places on staff support services.
	Additionally, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), a specialised service for staff suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been introduced. Between January and April 2003 three staff have been referred for EMDR treatment. Contact has also been made with 'Combat Stress', an armed forces welfare society for ex-forces staff. They provide specialist support services for those staff that are found to be suffering from PTSD, which has been specifically linked to incidents experienced while on active service. A fast track psychological referral system is also being piloted in two Prison Service areas for staff suffering from work related stress, anxiety and depression. Funding for this activity is being provided by area managers.
	Appropriate use is also made of counselling services provided by general practitioners and specialist treatment services available within the NHS.

Prison Officers

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities exist for prison officers to be moved to non-inmate contact work following stress related incidents in the Prison Service.

Paul Goggins: Support for staff following stress related incidents is managed by the establishment at which they work. There are a number of options in each establishment to deploy officers on non-prisoner contact duties. Such duties are given for a time bound period to assist in rehabilitation and recovery from a stress related incident.
	The individual needs of an officer are considered in each case and the decision to offer alternative work is guided by medical and support service advice. Establishments have full access to occupational health advice. It is a mandatory requirement to seek occupational health advice in serious stress related illness cases. Staff care and welfare services will also provide additional support and counselling services.
	While the non-prisoner contact duties will vary between prisons, they would normally include training, gate duties, administration or non-contact security work. Officers may also be relocated outside of the prison at which an incident occurred.

Prison Service

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce staff shortages in the prison service.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service has increased prison officer recruitment from an average 1,000 a year to 2,096 during 2002–03. In line with all other staff recruitment, responsibility for officer recruitment has now been devolved to area and establishment level in order that areas of specific need can be addressed more effectively by local advertising and recruitment campaigns.
	Recruitment campaigns are currently being run in areas where shortages have been identified and provision has been made to train a further 2,200 new officers during the current financial year. Additionally, to assist in the retention of staff in areas of high turnover, local allowances have been introduced.

Recovered Assets Fund

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial benefits from the confiscation of criminals' assets have been designated to the Recovered Assets Fund; what this money has been spent on; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: A total of £14.5 million of receipts recovered from confiscated criminal assets was distributed through the Recovered Assets Fund (RAF) in the year 2002–03. 48 projects received funding under the scheme. Grants were allocated to projects under the following RAF criteria:
	Asset Recovery—six projects at a cost of £1.6 million;
	Pro-active anti-drugs projects—16 projects at a cost of £6.5 million;
	Innovative law enforcement and crime reduction—15 projects at a cost of £5.4 million;
	Community regeneration and crime reduction—11 projects at a cost of £964,000.

Special Constables

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables are employed in each police area in England.

Bob Ainsworth: Police strength figures are collected by the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate. The latest available figures for Special Constables in England are for March 2002 and are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Police forces (England) Strength at 31 March 2002 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 364 
			 Bedfordshire 118 
			 Cambridgeshire 207 
			 Cheshire 191 
			 Cleveland 85 
			 Cumbria 102 
			 Derbyshire 260 
			 Devon and Cornwall 689 
			 Dorset 253 
			 Durham 134 
			 Essex 381 
			 Gloucestershire 154 
			 Greater Manchester 338 
			 Hampshire 444 
			 Hertfordshire 206 
			 Humberside 207 
			 Kent 327 
			 Lancashire 363 
			 Leicestershire 143 
			 Lincolnshire 155 
			 City of London 36 
			 Merseyside 468 
			 Metropolitan police 680 
			 Norfolk 244 
			 Northamptonshire 177 
			 Northumbria 256 
			 North Yorkshire 185 
			 Nottinghamshire 341 
			 South Yorkshire 206 
			 Staffordshire 384 
			 Suffolk 308 
			 Surrey 187 
			 Sussex 306 
			 Thames Valley 356 
			 Warwickshire 209 
			 West Mercia 339 
			 West Midlands 598 
			 West Yorkshire 349 
			 Wiltshire 147

Theft from Vehicles

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what priority his Department is giving to reducing the incidence of the theft of goods from heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many thefts of goods from heavy goods vehicles with a value in excess of £10,000 took place in each of the last three years.

Bob Ainsworth: Reducing vehicle crime, including thefts from heavy goods vehicles, is an essential part of the Government's crime reduction strategy. One measure of the priority that the Home Office attaches to reducing such thefts is the support we are giving to the National Stolen Lorry Load Desk. The Desk, run by the Metropolitan police, collects and analyses information about thefts from heavy goods vehicles and shares it with police and industry to help prevent and detect this crime. The Home Office supported the Desk financially with contributions of £36,000 in 2001–02 and £50,000 in 2002–03, and we are providing £50,000 in 2003–04; matching contributions are raised by industry.
	Information on the numbers and values of thefts of goods from lorries is not available centrally. But information provided by the National Stolen Lorry Load Desk shows that the value of property stolen from heavy goods vehicles in thefts notified to and recorded by the Desk amounted to £100 million in 2000, £145 million in 2001 and £124 million in 2002.

Traffic Offences

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which constabularies operate quotas for the minimum number of people fined for traffic offences; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: No constabulary operates such quotas. When a motorist is detected committing an offence the police must decide according to the circumstances of each particular case whether to offer a fixed penalty. If a fixed penalty is not offered, it will be for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to decide on prosecution and if there is a prosecution for the court to decide on conviction and any consequent fine.

Traffic Offences

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists were issued with fixed penalty notices by each constabulary in England and Wales in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

Bob Ainsworth: Information for 1997 and 2001 (latest available) can be found in Tables 20(a), (b) and (c) of the annual Home Office publication, Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales: supplementary tables. Copies are in the Library.
	2002 data will be available in the autumn.

Young Offenders

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people under the age of 18 were serving custodial sentences in England and Wales on 1 May 2003.

Paul Goggins: There were 2,259 young people under the age of 18 serving custodial sentences in England and Wales on 1 May 2003.

Visa Applications

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been granted (a) indefinite leave to remain and (b) exceptional leave to remain in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 22 May 2003
	The latest available information is given in the table.
	By way of background, indefinite leave to remain (ILR) can be granted in a variety of circumstances, for example to married and unmarried partners who have successfully completed a two year probationary period, long residence, in employment and business categories, such as work permit employment. A migrant can apply to settle in the United Kingdom as long as they meet the requirements set out in the Rules. In general these are that the migrant has been continuously resident in the UK save for a short trips abroad, for a minimum of four years; and still meets the requirements for stay under that category; and is still required in the UK for employment. Since July 1998, a person granted refugee status will have also been granted ILR concurrently.
	Under the Immigration Rules, ILR will also be granted to dependent children of people settled here who are aged under 18. Also, children who are admitted for adoption to someone settled here will qualify for ILR, once the formal adoption proceedings have been completed.
	A person who has completed four years exceptional leave may also apply for ILR. The rises in grants of exceptional leave to remain (ELR) have been contributed by a record number of initial decisions in 2001 (119,015) and high levels in 2002 (82,715), and by changes in the mix of applicant nationalities. All cases are decided on their individual merits. The main nationalities to be granted ELR in 2002 were Iraqi (8,130), Afghans (4,710) and Somali (1,400).
	On 1 April 2003, exceptional leave for failed asylum seekers was replaced by two forms of leave—Humanitarian Protection (HP) and Discretionary Leave (DL). They are more focused than exceptional leave and early signs are that we will see a reduction in those granted HP and DL compared to those who were previously granted exceptional leave. We have also ensured that the Secretary of State's over-riding discretion in immigration matters has been retained by introducing the concept of Leave Outside the Rules (LOTR). This, as previously, will be used in those wholly exceptional cases in which it would be inappropriate to remove someone from the UK even though they do not qualify under the Rules.
	
		Table 1: Grants of settlement and exceptional leave to remain(20), United Kingdom(21), 1998–2002
		
			  Total grants of settlement  Asylum cases granted ELR Exceptional leave granted when applicant had not applied for asylum 
			  Total On removal of time limit (ILR) Settlement on arrival (ILE) Cases considered under normal procedures(22)  Considered under backlogclearance exercise(23) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1998 69,790 66,895 2,895 3,910 — 2,830 
			 1999 97,115 90,275 6,845 2,465 10,195 1,480 
			 2000 125,090 117,750 7,335 11,495 10,020 1,780 
			 2001(24) 106,820 96,460 10,355 19,845 — 680 
			 2002(24) n/a n/a n/a 19,965 — n/a 
		
	
	n/a = Not yet available
	(20) Information is of initial decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	(21) Figures rounded to the nearest 5, with * = 1 or 2.
	(22) Cases considered under normal procedures may include some cases decided under the backlog criteria.
	(23) Cases decided under measures aimed at reducing the pre 1996 asylum application backlog.
	(24) Provisional data
	Note:
	Data for 2002 will be published in August 2003.

Work Permits

Matthew Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people with Tier One work permits renewed their visa in each year from 1997 to 2002.

Beverley Hughes: The number of Tier One work permit extensions issued since 2000 (the earliest date for which data is held) is as follows:
	2000 11,613
	2001 19,830
	2002 27,010

Work Permits

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual budget is of Work Permits UK; how many staff it employs; how much it will spend this year on marketing its services within the UK; and how many work permits it is empowered to issue each year.

Beverley Hughes: The budget allocation for Work Permits (UK) for the financial year 2003/2004 depends on the outcome of continuing discussions between the Home Office and the Treasury. However, from 1 April 2003, employers are charged £95 for the consideration of each work permit application and this will enable WP (UK) to recover a large part of the cost of running the organisation, plus relevant Home Office overheads. Apart from the new Sectors Based Scheme, which is subject to a quota of 20,000 permits, the work permit service is demand-led and responds to the needs of UK employers to recruit overseas workers. Staffing levels within WP (UK) are set according to this demand. WP (UK) currently employs 480 staff.

Work Permits

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the number of work permits for the leisure and hospitality industry.

Beverley Hughes: Following my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget Statement, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced a number of ways in which it intends to maximise benefits to the UK economy of managed migration routes to fill skills shortages and improve productivity. This includes the new sector-based work permit scheme which began on 30 May 2003 and will operate in the hospitality and food manufacturing sectors. Each sector will have a quota of 10,000 permits. Following consultation, these sectors were identified as having labour needs that could not be met by the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area workforce.

Work Permits

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued for non-EU residents for the leisure and hospitality industry in each year since 1999.

Beverley Hughes: The following figures are all approved work permit applications in the hospitality sector for the years in question:
	
		
			 Year Hospitality sector 
		
		
			 1999 1,027 
			 2000 2,046 
			 2001 5,379 
			 2002 12,136 
			 2003 (January-May) 6,029 
		
	
	Separate figures are not available for the leisure sector.

HEALTH

Additives

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the Government plans to recommend a maximum number of additives in a product;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to inform parents of additives in children's food; and what publicity material has been issued.

Hazel Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the responses I gave him on 3 June 2003, Official Report, column 365W.

Alcohol Abuse

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the use and abuse of alcohol in other EU countries with special reference to (a) binge drinking and (b) young people;
	(2)  what recent research he has commissioned into the treatment of alcohol abusers in the European Union;
	(3)  what comparative research he has commissioned into the costs to health services in the EU of alcohol abuse.

Hazel Blears: The Department of Health has been working closely with my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister's strategy unit on a project to develop the national alcohol harm reduction strategy. As part of this project, the strategy unit is due to publish an interim analysis in the summer. The analysis will consider issues around treatment for those with an alcohol problem and the costs to health services of alcohol-related harm. It will also make reference both to binge drinking and young people and will draw, where relevant, on international and European comparisons. The final report, which will set out the cross-governmental alcohol harm reduction strategy is planned for publication in the autumn.

Anaesthetic Machines

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there are anaesthetic machines capable of delivering hypoxic gas mixtures used in the NHS that operate without an (a) oxygen analyser and (b) anti-hypoxic guard.

David Lammy: The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) published SN2001(15) in May 2001 on "Anaesthetic Machines: Prevention of Hypoxic Gas Mixtures". This advised that all anaesthetic machines capable of delivering hypoxic gas mixtures must have a hypoxic guard fitted or use oxygen analyser with audible alarms to warn of the delivery of hypoxic gas mixtures.
	As a follow up to this safety notice, in October 2001, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Dr. David Jefferys, Chief Executive of MDA, wrote joint letters to chief executives of trusts and regional directors of public health requesting that they report back on how the actions recommended in the safety notice had been implemented. By 31 October 2002, all 5,843 anaesthetic machines in national health service hospitals in England complied with the safety notice by having either an anti-hypoxic guard or an oxygen analyser with alarms.
	We do not centrally hold records of the number of anaesthetic machines which have both the guard and the analyser as this information was not required in either the safety notice or CMO/MDA joint letter.

Asthma

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is undertaking into the links between allergies and asthma.

Hazel Blears: The main Government agency for research into the cause and treatments of disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its funding via the Department of Trade and Industry. Asthma is a priority area for the MRC. It supports a wide range of research projects looking at asthma ranging from basic research to clinical studies. The MRC spent an estimated £3 million in 2001–02 on research in this area, including research of direct relevance to allergies and asthma.
	The Department of Health is funding research on air pollution and asthma under its Policy Research Programme (PRP). Current work is focused in two areas:
	potential confounding effects of allergens in ambient air in determining the effects of air pollution as asthma exacerbations,
	effects of other air pollutants on patients with asthma.
	The Department is also funding a £100,000 project at the David Hide Asthma & Allergy Research Centre on the effect of a low allergen indoor environment on exacerbations of asthma.

Breast Cancer Screening

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women were tested for HER2 last year.

Hazel Blears: The Department of Health does not collect figures on the level of HER2 testing.
	Decisions on whether to carry out HER2 testing will be made by clinicians, based on factors such as the extent of the disease, previous treatment experience and the patient's fitness and wishes.

Care Records

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the specification for the integrated care records system will be completed.

John Hutton: The specification for the integrated care records service (ICRS) was completed in early May 2003, and issued on 16 May 2003 to the successful candidates who had progressed from the pre-qualification stage of the procurement process. 22 have been long-listed as potential local service providers and seven as potential national application service providers.
	The specification will enable bidders to propose a solution to the stated requirements.
	For the purpose of the procurement, the country has been split into five geographic areas ('clusters').
	A second specification will be issued at a later stage of the procurement process to provide details relevant to each cluster.

Chest Pain Clinics

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of rapid access chest pain clinics.

Hazel Blears: The Government has no plans to increase the number of rapid access chest pain clinics. These clinics are now serving all parts of the country. National health service service providers in some parts of the country may decide to open additional clinics, should this be required to ensure that all patients are seen within two weeks of referral by their general practitioner.

8/Diagnostic and Treatment Centres

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the terms and conditions under which diagnostic and treatment centres (DTCs) will provide non-urgent surgery to the NHS; how many non-NHS units and companies have been asked to tender; what the (a) nationality and (b) company HQ address is of the non-NHS companies on the list; what terms and conditions will be applicable to non-NHS staff working in DTCs; and what legal protection will be offered to patients receiving treatment outside the NHS from private DTCs.

John Hutton: There will be national health service run and independent sector-run diagnosis and treatment centres (DTCs) providing non-urgent surgery to NHS patients. NHS-run DTCs will be part of NHS trusts and will be subject to NHS governance and standards; independent sector DTCs will be expected to meet independent sector standards and will be regulated and inspected by the National Care Standards Commission. The intention is that the contracts for independent sector DTCs will be based on a standard project agreement containing a common core set of terms and conditions reflecting this. 15 companies have been short-listed and their details can be found at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/growingcapacity/news.htm This will be updated with further information on a regular basis.
	To comply with employment and health and safety legislation, guidance on pre and post-employment checks and all clinical staff will need to be registered with the appropriate regulatory body and properly trained and competent to carry out the roles required of them.
	Patients treated at NHS expense in DTCs will remain NHS patients and their rights as NHS patients will not be affected. They will, for example, have a right to use the NHS complaints procedure, and providers will be expected to co-operate with the investigation of complaints under that procedure.

Chewing Tobacco

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the sale of chewing tobacco.

Hazel Blears: The Department of Health's policy aims to reduce tobacco consumption in any form. Chewing tobacco is a legal tobacco product, though it is not as widely available as other forms of tobacco and is popular among some ethnic communities. The national health service offers support through its Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169, its Asian helplines and smoking cessation services across the country for those who wish to quit.
	In common with all other tobacco products, chewing tobacco is required to be labelled under the Tobacco Products (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale) (Safety) Regulations 2002, which require health warnings to be displayed. On chewing tobacco products, this warning reads "This tobacco product can damage your health and is addictive."

Communicable Disease Report

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which agency produces the Communicable Disease Report; how frequently it is issued; and to how many NHS organisations it is distributed.

Hazel Blears: The Communicable Disease Report (CDR) is produced by the Communicable Diseases Surveillance Centre (CDSC) of the Health Protection Agency and is published weekly on its web site. An email version of the CDR is also available on request, at no charge, which is currently sent out to around 1,700 addresses every week—including at least 1,000 recipients in the national health service.
	The CDSC no longer routinely produces paper copies of this publication.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 24 April 2003 regarding a constituent, ref P01028404.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 June 2003
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 6 June 2003.

Drug Dependence

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of treatment for drug dependence in people with severe personality and psychotic disorders in London.

John Hutton: There are currently 11 national health service providers of mental health services in London. These providers either directly provide or have made arrangements for the provision of NHS and independent sector in-patient, out-patient and community services for people with drug dependence who also have severe personality or psychotic disorders.
	The local borough-based planning and commissioning of these services is co-ordinated by the local drug action teams.

Efficiency Savings

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the target is for efficiency savings in 2003–04 expressed (a) in money terms and (b) as a percentage of the Department's expenditure limit.

John Hutton: The Spending Review 2002 value for money public service agreement target requires that value for money in the national health service and personal social services will improve by at least 2 per cent. per annum, with annual improvements of 1 per cent. in both cost efficiency and service effectiveness.

EU Committees

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many officials in the Department serve on EU committees or working parties.

Hazel Blears: There is a number of Council and Commission groups dealing with matters of concern to the Department. The most appropriate nature of attendance by officials depends on the particular matter, or matters, under discussion and therefore what expertise is required to take discussions forward.

Exercise Pilots

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the scope of the local exercise pilots, due to begin in September 2003.

Hazel Blears: The local exercise action pilots (LEAP) programme will evaluate the effectiveness of nine primary care trust led, community pilots across the country, aimed at increasing levels of physical activity in priority groups.
	Individual pilots will aim to reach a minimum of 50,000 people, including individual target groups of approximately 1,000 people. Each pilot site will receive up to £200,000 funding over three years to develop interventions.
	The pilots will cover a variety of innovative approaches, ranging from incorporating activity into everyday life to providing structured opportunities in local facilities.
	While all of the pilots will take place in neighbourhood renewal fund areas, the interventions will take place in a range of locations including urban, rural areas, green spaces, market towns and sport action zones. The key target groups for the interventions are:
	children and young people;
	older people;
	black and ethnic minority groups;
	people at risk of illness; and
	people recovering from heart attack or stroke.
	In addition, other groups have been identified such as people with diabetes, teenage mothers and people on low incomes.
	A national evaluation will, qualitatively and quantitatively, assess the overall effectiveness of the programme and the individual pilots in increasing levels of physical activity.

Food Ingredients

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received for (a) industry bodies, (b) consumers and parent organisations, (c) hon. Members and (d) others, about the proposal for amending EU Directive 2000/13/EC on ingredients present in foodstuffs.

Hazel Blears: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is in regular contact with a wide range of interested parties, including representatives of industry, consumer groups, enforcement authorities and health professionals regarding the proposal for amending EU Directive 2000/13/EC on ingredients present in foodstuffs. Most recently, the FSA has received a number of representations from consumer and industry representatives, including concerns about the implications for labelling of some processed ingredients.

Food Ingredients

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken by (a) his Department and (b) the Food Standards Agency to ensure that proposed amendments to European food labelling legislation do not require the labelling of products as containing wheat or egg if the only such presence is a derivative of the original substance which no longer contains the established allergenic component.

Hazel Blears: As currently drafted, the European Commission's proposal for amendments to European Union labelling rules would require not only that all derivatives of listed allergenic ingredients be declared in the ingredients list, but that the same allergenic ingredient, for example, wheat or egg, also be declared. In cases where the derivatives no longer have the potential to cause an allergic reaction, this additional information is unnecessary and could cause undue concern to allergic consumers. The Food Standards Agency has discussed this issue with interested parties and is supporting revision of the proposal to address this issue by establishing a list of derivatives for which the source allergenic ingredient would not need to be declared, pending evaluation of scientific evidence supporting a permanent exemption.

Food Ingredients

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposal for amending European legislation on ingredients in foodstuffs on (a) coeliac patients, (b) those at risk of anaphylaxis, (c) those with special dieting requirements and (d) diabetics.

Hazel Blears: The Government have consulted widely on the European Commission's proposal to amend the European Food Labelling Directive 2000/13/EC, as regards indication of the ingredients present in foodstuffs. Its assessment of the implications has included consideration of the potential benefits to consumers, the implications for enforcement authorities and the potential costs to the food industry. Its view is that the proposed changes would be of particular benefit to consumers with anaphylaxis and with coeliac disease, because it will ensure food labels provide comprehensive information on those ingredients which are most likely to cause intolerance reactions. The proposal would also have a wider benefit for all consumers, including those with special dietary requirements such as diabetics, because it would remove the 25 per cent. compound ingredient rule, which currently allows declaration of a compound ingredient rather than its constituent ingredients, so long as that ingredient contributes less than 25 per cent. of the weight of the product.

Food Ingredients

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has undertaken an assessment of the labelling changes for foodstuffs on the UK market, and other implications of the European proposal for amending Directive 2000/13/EC on derived ingredients.

Hazel Blears: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has consulted widely on the European Commission's proposal to amend the European Food Labelling Directive 2000/13/EC, as regards indication of the ingredients present in foodstuffs. Its assessment of the implications has included consideration of the potential benefits to consumers, the implications for enforcement authorities and the potential costs to the food industry. The Government are broadly supportive of the proposal, which will deliver benefits to all consumers, but particularly to allergic consumers. As far as derivatives are concerned, however, the Government's view is that the proposal, as currently drafted, would require, in some cases, unnecessary, and potentially misleading, additional labelling as to the source of the ingredient. The Government are supporting revisions which would prevent this unnecessary labelling.
	The FSA continues to consult with interested parties as negotiations progress and to refine its impact assessment as amendments are made.

Foundation Hospital Trusts

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how the role of foundation hospital trusts will affect the role of primary care trusts as commissioning bodies.

John Hutton: In their role as commissioners, primary care trusts will continue to take the lead in needs assessment and specifying service requirements, with national health service foundation trusts developing and providing services in partnership with other providers in the local health and social care community.

Foundation Hospital Trusts

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which trusts were rejected in the recent assessment of those eligible to proceed with an application for foundation status.

John Hutton: Three national health service trusts were not shortlisted. These are East Cheshire, Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases and Frimley Park. In each case the trusts have decided to defer establishing as NHS foundation trusts until October 2004 in order to be better placed to make a success of the new freedoms.

GPs

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practice posts there are within the national health service in England.

John Hutton: The information is not available in the form requested.
	The total number of all general practitioners in post in England as at 31 March 2002 was 32,011.

Health Service Statistics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of Quarter 4 2002–03 emergency readmission and delayed discharge figures in the Library.

Jacqui Smith: The Quarter 4 (March 2003) figures on delayed discharge and emergency readmission should be completed by the end of June and when they are available I will place a copy in the Library.

Hip and Knee Replacement

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost is to the NHS for the parts needed for a replacement (a) hip and (b) knee operation.

John Hutton: The Department of Health does not collect this information.
	The National Joint Registry was launched on 1 April 2003, and will collect data on total hip and knee replacement operations. This will provide national health service trusts with information about the performance of hip and knee implants and will allow them to improve their evidence based purchasing of implants.

Hip and Knee Replacement

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost to the NHS is of hip operations carried out on British patients in hospitals in (a) France and (b) Germany.

John Hutton: A procurement process identifying spare capacity abroad is currently active, so the costs of specific procedures abroad are commercially sensitive. However, prices are comparable to spot purchasing in the United Kingdom private sector.

Hospital Financing

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional capital will be available to the NHS when NHS foundation trusts are able to access capital from both the public and private sectors.

John Hutton: Capital spending by national health service foundation trusts will count against the Department's spending limits agreed through the Spending Review process. However, subject to legislation, under the new arrangements capital spending by foundation trusts will be determined locally according to each trust's needs. Block capital needs (to cover care and maintenance) will be covered in the national tariff paid to foundation trusts for NHS services under contracts with primary care trusts. Providing they act in a way that is consistent with their terms of authorisation, foundation trusts will be free to borrow capital up to a prudential limit for spending on strategic developments. Foundation trusts will also be free to enter into joint venture arrangements—which may provide an additional source of capital investment that helps deliver their NHS functions. And as now they will be able to enter into Private Finance Initiative arrangements for major developments.

Hospital Operations

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the suspension guidelines for waiting lists for NHS trust hospital operations.

John Hutton: The guidelines for suspending patients are available on the National Health Service Information Authority data standards website at www.nhsia.nhs.uk/datastandards/pages/ddm/index.htm

Hospital Trusts (Liability)

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether NHS foundation trusts will be required to accept vicarious liability for the actions of all their employees for the purposes of insurance.

John Hutton: It is a well-established common law principle that employers are vicariously liable for the actions of their employees, when acting in their capacity as employees. This principle will apply to national health service foundation trusts.

Hospitals (Havering)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on admissions to hospitals in the London Borough of Havering in the last year for which figures are available.

John Hutton: The Department does not have data at borough level. However, Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals National Health Service Trust, the trust in the borough of Havering, had 57,825 elective admissions for 2002–03, a growth increase of 10.4 per cent. from 2001–02 and 37,730 non elective admissions for 2002–03, a growth increase of 1.1 per cent, from 2001–02. It should also be noted that this trust includes hospitals from outside the Havering area, notably the King George Hospital in Ilford.

In-patient Deaths

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what allowance is made for local population ages when assessing hospital performances for in-patient death rates.

John Hutton: The current indicators of in-patient death rates use a technique called 'age—sex standardisation' to take into account the different age structures of the patients treated by different hospital trusts.

Induced Abortion

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the links between induced abortion and (a) clinical depression and (b) breast cancer.

Hazel Blears: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' evidence-based guideline, "The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion" (2000), considered the mental health implications of termination and concluded that only a small minority of women experience any long-term, adverse psychological sequelae after abortion. Referral for counselling is available for those women.
	The guideline also concluded that the available evidence on an association between induced abortion and breast cancer is inconclusive. Cancer Research UK is undertaking a study which is considering the full range of potential risk factors for breast cancer. This is an important and complex international research project. We understand that Cancer Research UK intends to publish the work when it is available.

Legal Action

Kerry Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what redress there is for patients who believe they have been mistreated as a witness in an NHS disciplinary inquiry into the conduct of a doctor against whom they have made a complaint.

John Hutton: A disciplinary process concerning a doctor is a matter between the doctor and the national health service trust as his/her employer. Patients who believe they have been mistreated as a witness can complain to the appropriate level of authority, for example, the chair of the panel, the chair of the trust, or, if appropriate, the relevant professional body.

Medical Staff (Malawi)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses from Malawi are working in the UK.

John Hutton: At 30 September 2001, census data in England recorded five doctors qualified in Malawi in the national health service hospital and community health services sector and none in general practice.
	The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registers all nurses who work in the United Kingdom and holds statistics for the number of overseas nurses who are accepted onto their register. Being placed on the NMC register does not equate to being employed.
	In the past five years, the number of nurses from Malawi that have been accepted on to the NMC register is:
	
		Nurses from Malawi accepted on to the NMC register
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Malawi 1 15 45 75 57 
		
	
	Information on Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the devolved administrations. While the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved, responsibility rests with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office.

Meningitis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is being undertaken on vaccination strategy and its possible impact on meningitis.

Hazel Blears: Clinical trials are currently being carried out to examine the suitability of including pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in the childhood immunisation programme. Research is also being undertaken to decide whether a routine Hib booster will be needed in future.
	Following the success of the Meningitis C campaign, Meningococcal B vaccines are in development and will be considered for inclusion in the childhood programme as soon as they become available.

Meningitis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on links between HiB vaccines and strains of meningitis.

Hazel Blears: Hib vaccine prevents infection from Haemophilus influenzae type B (HiB) disease. Wherever the vaccine has been introduced, there has been no evidence of any effect on non-type B Haemophilus strains, nor has it been thought that there was any effect on other infections causing meningitis.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the pilot scheme in Lambeth to raise awareness of and treatment for young men suffering from depression.

John Hutton: I am informed that there is no specific scheme in Lambeth, which particularly targets young men with depression. However, I understand that there are a number of projects and services which contain elements of such a scheme but all can be accessed by both genders. Some of these services include:
	A Health Promotion Team based at South London and Maudsley National Health Service Trust which, as part of its programme, offers training in mental health awareness aimed at reducing stigma and increasing willingness to access services.
	Access to practice-based counselling services by most Lambeth general practitioners to which they can refer people with mild—moderate depression.
	The Lambeth Early Onset (LEO) service aimed at reaching people in the early stagesof a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia to help prevent deterioration in their mental health. The service is for young people aged 18–35.
	24 hour access to mental health services through the accident and emergency based psychiatric liaison service and home treatment team, both located at St.Thomas' Hospital.

Mental Health

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to conduct a tracking investment exercise to establish where funds promised for the development of mental health services are being utilised.

Jacqui Smith: With the publication of the mental heath national service framework (NSF) a local structure was developed to support delivery, the local implementation teams. There are 166 of these across England, and they are teams who represent the whole of the local mental heath community.
	Since the mental health NSF was published, there has been an annual assessment of progress. That assessment has developed and now contains the following elements:
	self assessment of progress by local services;
	service mapping; and
	financial mapping.
	Through these elements the investment in developing mental health services is tracked.

Mental Health

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional (a) crisis resolution teams, (b) assertive outreach teams, (c) community gateway staff, (d) staff to give breaks to carers and strengthen carer support, (e) court assessment schemes and (f) medium secure services have been established in the South Wiltshire area of the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust in 2003–04; whether there is now a full community mental health team in South Wiltshire; and by how much the mental health budget will change in South Wiltshire this year.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally. Advice from the Avon Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) is that in the South Wiltshire area of the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership National Health Service Trust in 2003–04:
	there have been no additional crisis resolution teams although plans are in place to develop this service;
	there has been one additional assertive outreach team;
	there has been no additional community gateway staff, although this element of the service is subject to review;
	there have been no additional court assessment schemes as the SHA believes the current court assessment scheme meets the need in the area;
	there have been no additional medium secure services as the SHA believes there are already sufficient medium secure beds in the South Wiltshire area;
	the primary care trust and local authority fund a carers support organisation in South Wiltshire through direct grant support and use of the carers grant; and
	the South Wiltshire area has a full community mental health team in place.
	The SHA advises that the mental health budget in South Wiltshire is expected to increase by £382,000 in 2003–04.

Nanotechnology

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has recently made an assessment of the possible uses of nanotechnology in the national health service.

Hazel Blears: The Department of Health funds the National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC) at the University of Birmingham to provide advance notice of new and emerging technologies that might require urgent evaluation, consideration of clinical and cost impact, or modification of clinical guidance. The NHSC is monitoring progress in nanotechnology and clinical applications in this field, which will be considered alongside other emerging technologies for future published NHSC briefings.

NHS Boards (Nurses)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what his policy is on the election of nurses to the management boards of NHS hospitals;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on proposals that nurses be elected to NHS boards to participate more actively in the running of local hospitals.

John Hutton: Subject to parliamentary approval, the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill will provide for applicants for national health service foundation trust status to determine the detail of their constitutional arrangements within the parameters set out in Schedule 1. It will be for each applicant to decide whether to include an executive nurse on the Board of Directors, taking account of its local circumstances and any responses to consultation on the proposals set out in its application.

NHS Dentistry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely timescale before all the residents within the Portsmouth Primary Care Trust have access to an NHS dentist;
	(2)  pursuant to his answer of 22 May 2003, Official Report, column 966W, how many residents within the areas of (a) the Portsmouth Primary Care Trust, (b) the Fareham and Gosport Primary Care Trust and (c) the Southampton City Primary Care Trust have been unable to register with an NHS dentist.

Hazel Blears: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 9 June 2003.

NHS Management Training Scheme

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many entrants were recruited on to the NHS Management Training Scheme in each of the last six years, broken down by (a) the number and percentage of university graduates, (b) the number and percentage who are graduates of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, (c) the number and percentage with HND or an equivalent qualification and (d) region;
	(2)  how many in-service professionals from nursing and other clinical or health-related backgrounds were recruited on to the NHS Management Training Scheme in each of the last six years; and, within these totals, (a) how many and what percentage were graduates, (b) how many and what percentage were non-graduates and (c) how many and what percentage hold a nationally recognised managerial qualification;
	(3)  what the overall costs were of the NHS Management Training Scheme in each of the last six years.

John Hutton: The Management Training Scheme is a post graduate development programme which leads to a Diploma in Health Service Management and Certificate in Managing Health Services.
	The entry criteria appropriate for these programmes are a degree, or equivalent professional qualification.
	Over the last six years, 22 per cent., or 87 of those recruited were from a clinical or health related background and all will have had either a first level degree or equivalent professional qualification. Since we do not distinguish between these criteria on entry, we do not have a breakdown of the numbers. Increasingly, in-service candidates have a post graduate or second degree. A management qualification will not be regarded as required or necessary for entrance to the programme, so again figures are not kept.
	The cost of the scheme last year was £5 million, of which 74 per cent., relates to salaries for trainees and schemes staff. The remainder of the costs relate to the education programme costs, marketing, recruitment and selection. This represents a 6 per cent., decrease on the previous year's costs. Costs for the previous four years remained stable.
	All participants on the scheme will have a degree or equivalent post graduate qualification. A Higher National Diploma does not qualify applicants for the scheme. Of all trainees over the last six years, 10 per cent., have been Oxbridge graduates—40 out of 392 total. We offered eight or nine places per year in each of the old eight national health service regional offices. Applicants, however, are drawn from across the country and can choose which region they would prefer to be placed in. Choice of region will not effect the application process—many students apply during their third year of their degree and will therefore be living away from home, or in a different location from where they ultimately want to be based.

NHS Pay

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether clause 27 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill allows for the differentiation of pay and conditions between trust and non-trust hospitals.

John Hutton: National health service foundation trusts, like other NHS bodies, will have flexibility when it comes to staff pay and conditions. However, it is essential that NHS foundation trusts act in ways that are consistent with equal pay principles and that do not prejudice the interests of the wider NHS, including other NHS employers. NHS foundation trusts will be subject to the same statutory duty of partnership that applies to all NHS bodies—duty to cooperate in the exercise of their functions.

No-smoking Policies (Assaults)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assaults on hospital staff in 2002–03 were linked to attempts to enforce no-smoking policies.

John Hutton: Information on the level of assaults by type of incident is not collected centrally.

Nurses

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses there were per head of population in (a) each region and (b) England in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The information requested is available in the Library. Between 1997 and 2001 the number of nurses employed in the National Health Service has increased by 31,520 and the number of qualified nurses per 1,000 population has increased from 6.6 to 7.1 in the same period. Provisional figures for September 2002 show a further increase of around 17,000 qualified nurses since September 2001.

Nurses

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses there were per head of population in each region in each year since 1996.

John Hutton: Because of boundary changes, information on nurses per head of population by region in 1996 is not available. The available information has been placed in the Library.

Oxaliplatin

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the (a) efficacy and (b) availability within the NHS of oxaliplatin.

Hazel Blears: In March 2002, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) published recommendations on the use of oxaliplatin for the treatment of advanced bowel cancer.
	NICE recommended that oxaliplatin, in combination with fluorouracil and folinic acid, should be considered for use as first-line treatment for advanced bowel cancer in patients who have metastases that occur only in the liver, which may become operable following treatment.
	The national health service is now implementing NICE'S recommendations on this drug.
	NICE is due to review these recommendations in April 2005.

Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on (a) polymerase chain reaction and (b) other DNA-identification tests in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what steps the Food Standards Agency is taking to improve the polymerase chain reaction testing regime.

Hazel Blears: The Department did not fund development of any such tests until the Food Standards Agency (FSA) was established in April 2000. Since then an estimated total of £1.5 million has been spent on methods using DMA techniques to identify the presence of specific ingredients in foodstuffs. A breakdown of the amount spent per year is shown in the table. The projects have been looking at use of DNA methods to check the labelling of a wide range of foods, especially meat and fish products. All but one of these methods use polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based techniques.
	The FSA is currently funding ten research projects aimed at improving PCR methodology for use in authenticity surveys and enforcement of labelling legislation. These tests are aimed at developing methods for identifying ingredients of a wide range of products, including vegetarian foods, and identifying varieties, for example of potatoes and rice.
	
		
			 Completedin Year Range of foodstuffs included No. of projects Total cost (£s) 
		
		
			 2000 Food mixtures, meat. 3 75,021 
			 2001 Meat, wine, seafood, fish, olive oil, chicken. 6 423,098 
			 2002 Potatoes, rice, meat, olive and hazelnut oil. 5 343,549 
			 2003 White fish, jams and yoghurts, vegetarian foods, meat, rice, potato, chicken breasts. 10 725,286 (estimated)

Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many food samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction tests by the Food Standards Agency in each year since the Agency was established; and what proportion of those tests identified DNA from products other than the food sample tested, broken down by category.

Hazel Blears: Since the Food Standards Agency was established, it has completed three surveys using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the basis of checking the description or labelling of foods. The details of these surveys are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Date/year Title/Purpose of study and foodstuffsampled Number of samples collected Number of samples containing foreign DNA Proportion of samples containing foreign DNA (%) 
		
		
			 December 2001 Survey of meat content, added water and hydrolysed protein in catering chicken breasts 68 (1 sample =10kg. Carton) 2 samples contained pork DNA. 3 
			 January 2002 Pilot study: Analysis of GM soya content in retail baked goods (including bread, cakes, buns and rolls). 203 31 samples contained traces of GM soya, but only 3 of these contained more than 1% GM soya. 15 (of which only1.5% above legalthreshold limit). 
			 March 2003 Co-ordinated enforcement exercise on meat content, added water, and hydrolysed proteins in catering chicken breasts. 25 11 samples contained pork DNA. 1 sample contained pork & beef DNA. 48

Primary Care Trusts

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will urge the chief executives of primary care trusts in England to ensure that all funding earmarked for the development of primary care services is passed on to GP practices; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Within primary care trust (PCT) unified allocations, £315 million in 2003–04, £394 million in 2004–05 and £460 million in 2005–06 has been identified nationally as the minimum expected spend on primary care enhanced services.
	PCTs are expected to spend at least this level of resources on primary care service providers; in particular general practitioner practices, but also other providers.
	The Department has reminded primary care trusts, through the strategic health authorities, of their requirement to spend at least this level of resources in the next three years.
	If the new general medical services contract is accepted by the profession, expenditure on primary care will rise from £5 billion in 2002–03 to £6.8 billion in 2005–06. There will be a gross investment guarantee that these resources will be delivered.

Primary Care Trusts

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health [pursuant to his answer of 14 April, Official Report, column 620W], on primary care trusts, what the population was of each of the old primary care trusts in Redbridge and Waltham Forest; and what the population is of each of the new trusts.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Primary Care Trust Population 
		
		
			  Population for 2003–04 under old configuration 
			 Chingford Wanstead and Woodford PCT 118,719 
			 Redbridge PCT 164,385 
			 Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT 163,75 
			 Population for 2003–04 under new configuration 
			 Redbridge PCT 218,984 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 227,295 
		
	
	Source:Office for National Statistics census populations.

Prostate Cancer

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to increase awareness of the symptoms of prostate cancer.

Hazel Blears: We want men to know what their prostate gland is, what it does, and what can go wrong with it. However, we do not want to scare them, so we need to raise awareness in a responsible way. The Department has funded the following regarding public awareness:
	section 64 grant to the Prostate Cancer Charity to increase the information available about prostate cancer;
	section 64 grant to the Prostate Cancer Charity to improve awareness of the risks and symptoms of prostate cancer in African and Afro-Caribbean men in Britain; and
	the Database of Individual Patient Experiences (DIPEx) in prostate cancer.
	Public awareness is a key element of the terms of reference of the newly established prostate cancer advisory group. The group is chaired by Professor Mike Richards, the National Cancer Director. It met for the first time on 10 June 2003.
	In addition, as part of the prostate cancer risk management programme, evidence-based primary care resource packs were sent to all general practitioners in England in September 2002 to aid them in counselling men who are worried about prostate cancer, ensuring the men make an informed choice about whether or not to have a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.

Prostate Cancer

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will list the membership of the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group;
	(2)  if he will publish the terms of reference of the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group.

Hazel Blears: The prostate cancer advisory group is chaired by Professor Mike Richards and the members are:
	David Rowlands, PcASO Prostate Cancer Network;
	John Neate, Prostate Cancer Charity;
	Alan George, Coalition Against Prostate Cancer;
	Mr. Mark Fordham, Urologist;
	Mr. Roger Kochelbergh, Urologist;
	Mr. John Anderson, Urologist;
	Mr. David Gillatt, Urologist;
	Amanda Baxter, Cancer Nurse at the Royal Marsden;
	Martin Ledwick, Cancer Nurse with CancerBACUP;
	Dr. Ian Banks, GP;
	Dr. Mike Kirby, GP;
	Professor Peter Armstrong, Radiologist at St. Bartholomew's;
	Dr. Pat Harnden, Pathologist;
	Dr. Chris Parker, Oncologist;
	Dr. Heather Payne, Oncologist;
	Dr. Dan Ash, President of the Royal College of Radiologists;
	Dr. Noel Clarke, Oncologist;
	Dr. Jane Melia, Cancer Screening Evaluation Unit;
	Professor Colin Cooper, Researcher at the Institute of Cancer Research;
	Professor David Neal, Research;
	Tim Elliott, Department of Health, Cancer Policy Team, Secretariat;
	Dr. Helen Cambell, NHS R&D Programme;
	Dr. Graham Cadwallader, National Cancer Research Institute; and
	Julietta Patnick, NHS Cancer Screening Programmes.
	Terms of reference for the prostate cancer advisory group are:
	to review progress in implementation of the prostate cancer elements of the NHS Cancer Plan and the NHS Prostate Cancer Programme and the effectiveness of current delivery of diagnostic, treatment and palliative care services;
	to advise on future policy programmes and priorities to tackle prostate cancer, including the implementation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on improving outcomes in urological cancers, the assessment of future resource needs and the improvement of information sharing on all aspects of prostate cancer;
	to advise on future public awareness programmes on prostate cancer;
	to advise on future research priorities and the implications of research results for policy on prostate cancer; and
	to consider and advise as appropriate on the development of the prostate cancer risk management programme (PCRMP), taking on board advice from the PCRMP scientific reference group.

Sixteen-week Rule

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on discussions he has had with the European Commission on the proposed 16-week rule.

John Hutton: The Department has been in discussions with the European Commission about the proposed Directive on Recognition of Qualifications, which includes a 16-week provision of services proposal, at the European Council Working Group and in bilateral discussions with the Commission, where our concerns with this proposal have been raised.

Sustainable Development

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he makes of bids for (a) grants and (b) contracts awarded by his Department (i) of the environmental impact and (ii) against sustainable development criteria; who makes the assessment; and whether they are published.

Hazel Blears: In specifying contracts for goods and services, there is a requirement to take environmental issues embodied in the Department's sustainable development strategy into account. This strategy forms a key part of the Department's policies and operations. Assessment against specified criteria (including environmental and sustainable development) is carried out as part of the overall tender evaluation process. The sustainable development principles, on which criteria for individual contract evaluation is based, can be found on the Department's website.
	Criteria for awarding research grants and those provided under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, and the assessment process, can
	be found on the Department's website.
	The Department is working closely with the Sustainable Development Commission to explore ways of strengthening the links between health, health care and sustainable development. The overall aim is to embed sustainable development in the Department's policy objectives for health and social services.

Sustainable Development

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what remit relating to sustainable development is required by his Department's (a) executive agencies, (b) advisory non-departmental bodies, (c) executive non-departmental bodies, (d) tribunals, (e) public corporations and (f) other bodies.

Hazel Blears: The Department's strategy on sustainable development reflects the Government's overall sustainable development strategy. The Department's strategy seeks to promote and encourage sustainable development principles throughout the Department and the national health service, including those agencies and other bodies for which the Department has responsibility.
	Departmental agencies and other bodies may draw up their own sustainable development strategies. For example, the Department's NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) has recently published its new sustainable development policy. This is available on the PASA website at http://www.pasa.nhs.uk/environment/
	Progress on Department of Health sustainable development activity can be tracked on the Department's web page at http://www.doh.gov.uk/sustainabledevelopment.

Temporary Staff

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of (a) temporary nurses and (b) locum doctors in the NHS, with particular reference to NHS institutions covering Portsmouth and the rest of Hampshire.

Hazel Blears: A range of initiatives are underway to get better value for temporary staff in the National Health Service. Along with the roll-out of NHS Professionals, the aim is to reduce agency costs and to improve the quality of staff through agency framework agreements. Agency framework agreements fix the cost of agency staff, which can only increase in line with the recommendations of the pay review body.
	NHS trusts are using the national medical locum agency contract, with the contract value in the first quarter being £15 million. This is expected to show an average saving of 6 per cent. per trust on the medical locum expenditure per annum.
	The aim is to roll-out agency agreements and NHS Professionals to cover all aspects of the temporary healthcare labour market. This means covering not just nurses and doctors but also the Allied Health Professions and other healthcare professionals.
	Medical locums are already covered by a national agency framework agreement, and a NHS Professionals service for doctors is being developed.
	By ensuring that all temporary staffing demand is handled through NHS Professionals, the savings and outcomes from the agency project will be maximised. The new NHS Professionals Special Health Authority will enable better strategic management of the healthcare temporary staffing labour market and ensure that all NHS trusts are using NHS Professionals by April 2005.
	Hampshire and The Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority have advised that trusts in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including Portsmouth are working towards using NHS Professionals by the target date of April 2005 and are using, or working towards using, the national medical locum agency contract.

Tranquiliser Drugs

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the guidelines issued by his Department in prescribing tranquiliser drugs.

Jacqui Smith: The CSM (Committee on the Safety of Medicines) issued advice in 1980 on the use of benzodiazepines for short-term (two to four weeks) relief of severe anxiety. The CSM said that the use of benzodiazepines to treat short-term 'mild' anxiety was inappropriate and that benzodiazepines should be used to treat insomnia only when it is severe, disabling, or subjecting the individual to extreme distress.
	In 1994, the Department of Health issued copies of "Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Benzodiazepine Dependence", published by the Mental Health Foundation, to all health authorities and recommended their use by general practitioners. "Drug Misuse and Dependence—Guidelines on Clinical Management" was then issued in 1999. The British National Formulary (BNF), updated twice yearly, is issued free to all doctors, and gives guidance on the prescription of benzodiazepine drugs as well as management of benzodiazepine dependence.
	This guidance has led to an overall reduction in prescribing of these drugs and the attendant dependence problems.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has started work on the development of a clinical guideline on the management of anxiety. This will cover both drug and non-drug (psychological) treatments.

Treatment Abroad

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those countries where NHS patients have been sent for treatment in the last five years.

John Hutton: Patients can be referred for treatment abroad under the European Union-wide health care co-ordination regulations (the E112-scheme) or through direct referral from their national health service trust.
	In the last five years, NHS patients have been referred under the El 12 referral arrangements to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
	Under the direct referral scheme, patients have received treatment in France, Germany and Belgium.

Tuberculosis

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of reported cases of tuberculosis in (a) London and (b) the London Borough of Havering in each of the past five years.

John Hutton: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is responsible for the number of cases reported to its statutory notifications of infectious disease (NOIDS) database. Therefore, the following table provides data of tuberculosis notifications from the NOIDS database, which collects surveillance data on all cases of clinically diagnosed tuberculosis, whether or not microbiologically confirmed. 2002 data is not yet available.
	
		TB Notifications (NOIDS) for London and Barking and Havering HA 1998–2001
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 London 2,444 2,509 2,938 2,917 
			 Havering 12 25 62 49

Volatile Organic Compounds

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the health implications of the inhalation of volatile organic compounds from products designed for indoor use.

Hazel Blears: The adverse effects of deliberate inhalation of volatile organic compounds can vary greatly depending on the specific substance. Use can be fatal, even on the first occasion. Fatalities are mainly caused by the toxicity of the substance, cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), inhalation and choking on vomit and asphyxia through the use of plastic bags over the face. In addition deaths can be caused by accidents while disorientated. These may include falls, vehicle accidents and drowning. A number of deaths and serious injuries have also been caused by fire or explosion when vapour from the substance ignites. More general effects include cold sweats, fainting, headache, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, confusion, dizziness and risk of accidental injury.

Waiting Times/Lists

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been waiting longer than 12 months for heart operations within the Greater London area.

John Hutton: The latest published figures show that no patient waited over 12 months for heart operations (coronary revascularisation procedures) within the Greater London area.

Working Time Directive

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact of the European Working Time Directive on midwives.

John Hutton: The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) was transposed into UK law and became the Working Time Regulations on 1 October 1998. It applies to all employees, including midwives, working in the UK with the exception of those in the excluded sectors. Doctors in training are currently excluded, but EWTD will apply to them from 1 August 2004. We are working with the Modernisation Agency, piloting solutions to EWTD in a range of trusts, which involve "new ways of working", in terms of role development and the substitution.
	An agreement was made in the General Whitley Council on the operation of the regulations for non-medical staff on national contracts, which also includes midwives. Additionally, the Department of Health also issued guidance in Health Service Circular 1998/204, "Working Time Regulations—Implementation in the NHS". It is the responsibility of local national health service employers to implement the regulations as they see fit to meet local circumstances. We are not aware of any particular national problems in the implementation of the Whitley agreement.

Working Time Directive

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 21 May 2003, Official Report, column 861W, on the Working Time Directive, by how much he expects the number of doctors on an individual rota on call to have to increase to implement the 2004 requirements.

John Hutton: The number of doctors required on an on-call rota to comply with the 2004 Working Time Directive (WTD) requirements will vary, depending on a range of local factors, for example the way in which services are organised and/or the skill mix of the staff who provide them.
	There are a range of solutions to WTD compliance which involve changing the working practices of both medical and non-medical staff and building on the increases in consultant and specialist registrar numbers. This will enable the national health service to deliver increases in both the quality and quantity of service delivery whilst minimising the additional costs of WTD implementation.